António Guterres honors fallen Indonesian peacekeepers

UN Secretary-General António Guterres paid tribute to four Indonesian peacekeepers who recently lost their lives in Lebanon. Speaking at the Indonesia Armed Forces Peacekeeping Centre in Sentul, Guterres described the fallen personnel as having paid the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ to protect others in difficult circumstances.

Guterres condemned attacks on peacekeepers, labeling them grave violations of international humanitarian law that may constitute war crimes. He emphasized the need for accountability and pledged to continue calling on Member States to ensure the safety of UN personnel.

Addressing troops preparing for deployment to the Central African Republic (CAR), Guterres characterized the mission in the CAR as a ‘success story that still needs to be completed,’ noting that the mission's success could eventually allow for a progressive downsizing of UN presence in the country. Indonesia currently serves as the world’s sixth-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping, with nearly 2,000 personnel serving across seven missions.