Angry DR Congo residents storm UN facilities

by James Tasamba

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (AA) - Angry residents in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday stormed UN facilities to protest a recent attack by a Ugandan rebel group which killed eight people.

The protesters looted a UN base in the northeastern border city of Beni, local media reported.

“The situation was very tense since Monday morning with gunshots being heard in the center of the city of Beni. Young people took to the streets to protest the killings,” UN Radio Okapi reported.

“The town hall of Beni was burned down. One of MONUSCO's bases in the Boikene district was looted by protesters and vehicles were also set on fire.”

Police and army tried to disperse protesters who denounced what they called inaction by the army and UN mission in the country.

The killings on Sunday took place in the Masiani district of the eastern North Kivu province.

The rebels on Sunday also kidnapped nine people in Beni, according to local civil society leader Kizito Bin Hangi.

More than 60 civilians are reported to have been killed in a period of ten days in Beni territory by the rebel group, according to local civil society group.

Over the past five years, rebels have reportedly killed more than 1,500 people in the area, according to Human Rights Watch report released earlier this year.