5 killed, 50 injured as anti-UN protest continues in Congo

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - A protest against a UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern province continued on Tuesday, as an official confirmed at least five people dead and 50 others injured in Monday's mob attack on a UN base.

Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya stated in a tweet on Tuesday that security forces had fired warning shots at protesters in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, to stop attacks on UN personnel.

"We will also take stock of the process of withdrawing the @MONUSCO that has already begun," he added.

According to local media, demonstrators set fire to a minibus on Tuesday in Vision 20-20, a neighborhood north of Goma.

The government has instructed the military and police to take all necessary measures to restore peace and normal resumption of activities in Goma, the spokesman stated.

Some people in the country want the UN mission's 14,000 personnel to leave.

On Monday, hundreds of people took to the streets in Goma to demonstrate against what they described as the “ineffectiveness” of the UN mission in bringing peace to the eastern province.

Chanting anti-UN slogans, the demonstrators blocked roadways before storming the headquarters and logistical base of the UN peacekeeping force.

Security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the angry crowds, who were vandalizing and looting valuables, while helicopters evacuated UN staff from the premises.

The Congolese government “strongly condemned” any form of attack on UN personnel and facilities, stressing that those responsible would be prosecuted and severely punished.

In a statement on Monday, the UN mission denounced the attack on its premises.

“The incidents in Goma are not only unacceptable but totally counterproductive,” said Khassim Diagne, the deputy special representative for operations and acting head of mission.

“MONUSCO is mandated by the Security Council to support the authorities in protecting civilians. It stands with the population and supports the national defense and security forces in their fight against armed groups. The Mission also supports the Congolese authorities in their efforts to restore State authority,” he added.

The UN mission in Congo has been repeatedly criticized for its perceived ineffectiveness to stop fighting in the volatile east, where hundreds of armed groups attack civilians.

This situation comes a few days after a meeting in mid-July at which Modeste Bahati Lukwebo, president of the Congolese Senate, accused the international community of being "complicit" in the country's insecurity while encouraging people to "take up all kinds of arms" to defend themselves.

"We even ask ourselves the question of whether it is worth continuing to keep Monusco on our territory as 20,000 soldiers have been stationed there for 22 years, but there is no peace," Lukwebo said.

He also blamed the UN for refusing to lift the embargo on Congo's procurement of arms.