According to the government, 43 people have been killed and 56 injured in the violent crackdown on several demonstrations against the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the eastern Congolese city of Goma.
As the government announced on Thursday, the incident had already taken place on Wednesday. Authorities had initially only spoken of six protesters killed and have now corrected their statements.
158 people were also arrested and a military investigation was launched. Congolese troops violently broke up protests against the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO and other foreign organizations after images of an attack on a police officer circulated on social media, the government said. Reuters news agency could not independently verify the images.
Serious stab and gunshot wounds
The head of the local branch of the International Red Cross in Goma, Anne-Sylvie Linder, said her clinic had taken in a large number of people with serious stab and gunshot wounds following the protests. “Some were already dead when they arrived,” says Lindner. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, issued a statement deploring the incident and expressing his condolences to those affected. “The mission urges the Congolese authorities to investigate and treat detainees well, with due respect for human rights,” said Keita.
The UN peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo has faced repeated protests since 2022. These were motivated in part by complaints that the UN had failed to protect civilians from decades of militia violence.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
