Status on media report regarding a plane that was carrying United Nations Ambassadors

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NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 50 

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 16 OF 13 JUNE 2008

Mr J M Sibiya (ANC) to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs:

(1) Whether, as alleged in a media report, a plane carrying United Nations Ambassadors was fired at in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo; if so, who shot at it;
(2) whether there were any casualties; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether there were any fights; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether South African men and women in uniform were involved in the fighting; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

(1) The aircraft was not fired upon.
(2) There were no casualties. A security guard travelling with the delegation accidentally discharged his weapon while the dignitaries were on board the aircraft. The guard was in the process of securing his weapon for the flight. The pilot deemed the aircraft unsafe for flight and the dignitaries were then transported by bus to Rwanda and from there to Côte d’Ivoire by another aircraft.

No fighting occurred.

No South African men and women in uniform were involved.

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