The late Mr Seniloli Tabuatausole will be long remembered as a proud Fijian who lived and gave the ultimate sacrifice in upholding the tradition of supporting the UN to operate in some of the most difficult regions of the world.
This was highlighted by Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (PRUN) in New York Dr Satyendra Prasad while offering his deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late Mr Tabuatausole.
The late Mr Tabuatausole, was a member of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). He died when the vehicle which he was travelling on was hit by a car bomb (vehicle borne improvised explosive device) in the Libyan city of Benghazi on Saturday 10 August 2019. Three UN staff were killed in this incident, including the late Mr Tabuatausole.
Dr Satyendra Prasad said that this was one of the most difficult missions for the UN.
“The UN system is the last line of hope for Libyans at a time when the institutions of law and order have been weakened. Maintaining a UN presence is pivotal to opening opportunities for dialogue between the warring parties and providing humanitarian support to children, women and communities.
“The sacrifices made by the late Mr Tabuatausole and others will be long remembered. Fiji has a proud tradition of supporting the UN to operate in some of the most difficult regions of the world. The late Mr Tabuatausole will be long remembered as a proud Fijian who lived and gave the ultimate sacrifice in upholding this proud tradition.
The UN Security Council convened a special emergency session on Saturday 10 August 2019, in which the President of the Security Council, Ambassador Joanna Wronecka of Poland read a statement stating, "On behalf of the members of the Security Council, I would like to condemn in the strongest terms the outrageous, deadly and totally unacceptable attack on United Nations that occurred today in Benghazi, Libya. The members of the Security Council convey their deepest condolences to the families of the victims.”
Council members and others attending the meeting observed a moment of silence for those killed. The attack was also condemned by the UN Secretary General, Mr Antonio Guterres.
The United Nations Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL) is an integrated special political mission established on 16 September 2011 by UN Security Council Resolution 2009 (2011). This was at the request of the Libyan authorities to support the country's new transitional authorities in their post-conflict efforts. UN Security Council Resolution 2434 (2018), extends UNSMIL's mandate until 15 September 2019. The Mission is led by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Mr Ghassan Salame of Lebanon.
The late Mr Tabuatausole is a former member of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and is one of the three Fijians serving in UNSMIL.