By Djaffar Sabiti and Fiston Mahamba
Goma, DRC: Three United Nations peacekeepers and at least 15 civilians were killed and dozens of others injured during a second day of anti-UN protests in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities said.
The protests were spurred by complaints that the UN mission, known as MONUSCO, has failed to protect civilians against militia violence which has raged for years.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the violence, deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement, adding, “He underscores that any attack directed against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute a war crime and calls upon the Congolese authorities to investigate these incidents and swiftly bring those responsible to justice.”
The secretary-general “regrets the loss of life of demonstrators” and affirms the UN peacekeeping mission’s commitment to work with Congolese authorities to investigate these incidents, Haq said.
A resident holds a placard reading “MONUSCO get out without delay” as they protest in Goma against the United Nations peacekeeping force (MONUSCO) deployed in the DRC.Credit: AP
Demonstrations began on Monday in the city of Goma and spread on Tuesday to Butembo, where a UN soldier and two UN police with the mission were shot dead, Haq told reporters in New York.
He said the attacks were “fuelled by hostile remarks and threats made by individuals and groups against the UN, particularly on social media”.
In both cities UN peacekeeping troops were accused of retaliating with force as hundreds of protesters threw rocks and petrol bombs, vandalised 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.
Deputy UN Congo envoy Khassim Diagne on Thursday (AEST) said a “normal fragility” had returned with pockets of insecurity.
“We do not have any evidence that MONUSCO troops were firing at civilians, he told journalists in New York via video, adding that the U.N. would work with Congolese authorities to investigate civilian deaths.
Demonstrators said they were protesting against the rise of insecurity and inaction of the UN in the region. The sign left reads: “Monusco no more”.Credit: AP
In Butembo at least seven civilians were killed and an unknown number wounded, said the city’s police chief Paul Ngoma.
Four protesters were electrocuted on Wednesday in Uvira when troops fired shots which hit an electric cable that fell on them, the mission and a local official said.
UN peacekeeping missions have been beset by accusations of abuse for years.
“Obviously if there’s any responsibility by UN forces for any of the injuries, or any of the deaths, we will follow up on that,” Haq said.
UN forces were advised to use tear gas to disperse protesters and only fire warning shots if needed, he said.
The protests were called by a faction of the ruling party’s youth wing, which has demanded the UN mission withdraw over 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. Attacks by militants linked to Islamic State have also continued despite a year-long state of emergency and joint operations against them by the DRC and Ugandan armies.
“We have been doing our utmost, not just for years, but really for decades to try to bring stability to eastern Congo,” said Haq, adding that UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix would travel to Congo as soon as he could.
MONUSCO took over from an earlier UN operation in 2010. MONUSCO had more than 12,000 troops and 1600 police deployed as of November 2021, and has been gradually withdrawing.
Protesters also stormed the houses of UN workers in Goma, spurring the mission to relocate its staff to camps. Staff being were evacuated in a convoy with army escort.
India’s foreign minister said two of the peacekeepers who died were Indian. Ngoma said the third one was Moroccan.
The UN Security Council was briefed on the situation behind closed doors on Tuesday, diplomats said.
Reuters, AP