In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been ravaged by violence for years, UN peacekeepers have killed at least two people and injured several others. On Sunday, some soldiers of the peacekeeping mission opened fire for “inexplicable reasons”, according to the UN mission MONUSCO.
Videos from the village of Kasindi near the border with Uganda showing UN soldiers firing after a verbal altercation with several men spread like wildfire on social media. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “sad and stunned” by the incident and asked for clarification. MONUSCO director Bintou Keita said she was “deeply shocked and appalled by this serious incident”. According to the UN mission, the countries of origin of the soldiers have already been contacted in order to start the investigation as soon as possible. The suspects are said to be in custody.
UN soldiers killed in protests
At least 19 people, including three UN soldiers, were killed in protests against the UN mission in DR Congo last week. The protests were directed against what protesters saw as Monusco’s inefficiency in its fight against armed groups. Protesters had attacked several positions of the mission.
MONUSCO is currently deployed with more than 14,000 peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the UN, 230 blue helmets have been killed in the operation so far.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
