UN mission helicopter shelled in Congo, 1 person killed

Reuters reported the information citing a representative of the mission.

The helicopter came under fire after taking off from the city of Beni. The pilot was also injured. However, he was able to continue the flight and land at the airport of the provincial capital, Goma.

Neither South Africa nor the UN mission has made a statement on who might be responsible for the attack. They also did not specify what weapons were used to fire at the helicopter.

The UN peacekeeping mission of about 18,000 people was deployed in eastern Congo after replacing the previous UN operation in 2010. Its mandate includes support for the Congolese government's efforts to stabilize the region, which is torn apart by rebel violence.

• Earlier, the interim government of Mali reported that the head of the human rights department of the UN peacekeeping mission has 48 hours to leave the country. She was declared persona non grata.