Three United Nations peacekeepers and at least 12 civilians have been killed during a second day of anti-UN protests in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities said.
Key Points:
- The demonstrations began on Monday in the city of Goma and spread on Tuesday
- Hundreds of protesters threw stones and petrol bombs, vandalized and set fire to UN buildings
- Of the peacekeepers who died, two were Indian and one Moroccan
The protests were spurred by complaints that the UN mission, known as MONUSCO, has failed to protect civilians against years of militia violence.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the violence, U.N. Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said in a statement, adding: “It underscores that any attack directed against peacekeepers of the The United Nations may constitute a war crime and calls on the Congolese authorities to investigate these incidents and quickly bring those responsible to justice.”
The demonstrations began in the city of Goma on Monday and spread to Butembo on Tuesday, where a UN soldier and two UN police officers on the mission were shot dead, Haq told reporters in New York.
In both cities, UN peacekeeping troops were accused of retaliating with force as hundreds of protesters threw stones and petrol bombs, vandalized and set fire to UN buildings.
A Reuters reporter saw UN peacekeepers shoot dead two protesters in Goma, where government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said at least five people were killed and 50 wounded.
Protesters set fire to UN buildings in Goma and Butembo. (AP: Moses Sawasawa)
In Butembo, at least seven civilians were killed and an unknown number injured, said the city’s police chief, Paul Ngoma.
UN peacekeeping missions have been beset by allegations of abuse for years.
“Obviously, if there is any responsibility on the part of the UN forces for any of the injuries or any of the deaths, we will follow up,” Haq said.
UN forces were advised to use tear gas to disperse protesters and only fired warning shots if necessary, he said.
Calls for UN to withdraw due to ‘ineffectiveness’
The protests were called by a faction of the youth wing of the ruling party, which has demanded the withdrawal of the UN mission for what it describes as its ineffectiveness.
Resurgent clashes between local troops and the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo in recent months have displaced thousands of people.
Attacks by militants linked to Islamic State have also continued despite a year-long state of emergency and joint operations against them by the Congolese and Ugandan armies.
“We have been doing everything we can, not just for years, but really for decades, to try to bring stability to eastern Congo,” Haq said, adding that the UN peacekeeping chief was expected to , Jean-Pierre Lacroix, travel to the Congo as soon as possible.
A resident holds a banner that reads ”MONUSCO leave without delay”. (AP: Moses Sawasawa)
MONUSCO took over from a previous UN operation in 2010.
MONUSCO had more than 12,000 troops and 1,600 police deployed in November 2021, and has been gradually withdrawing for years.
Protesters also stormed the homes of UN workers in Goma, prompting the mission to move its staff to the camps.
A Reuters reporter saw staff being evacuated in an army-escorted convoy.
India’s foreign minister said two of the peacekeepers who died were Indians. Ngoma said the third was Moroccan.
The UN Security Council was briefed on the situation behind closed doors on Tuesday, diplomats said.
Reuters