UK condemns the downing of a UN helicopter in South Sudan

Press Release

28 August 2014



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Reacting to the news that a UN helicopter went down 10km South of Bentiu, in Unity State, on 26 August, the British Embassy in Juba released the following statement:

“The UK utterly condemns the downing of a UN helicopter in South Sudan with the sad loss of three crew.

We offer our condolences to the families of those killed and to the Russian Federation. We wish the one surviving crew member a quick and full recovery from his injuries.

We underline the UK’s strong support for the UN Mission in South Sudan. It has a critical role to protect civilians and secure peace for the people of South Sudan.

We urge the UN Mission and the Government of South Sudan to ensure a prompt and rigorous investigation into the circumstances of the incident. It will be important that the findings of those investigations are acted on fully.

The parties to the conflict must engage in peace talks seriously and secure peace for the people of South Sudan within the 45 day deadline agreed by regional leaders. Those that block peace will be held to account.”

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For further information, contact:
Charles Luganya Ronyo, Political and Press Officer: +211 912396374; +211 959200013; mailto:[email protected]@fco.gov.uk