At least five people were killed during a protest against the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), said Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya on Tuesday.
On the Twitter account, the minister also pointed out that about fifty people were injured during the violent protest since Monday morning, which also led to the looting of the MONUSCO office in Goma, capital of the northeastern province of North Kivu.
Demonstrators accused the UN of being ineffective against the March 23 Movement rebels which have occupied several villages in the region.
Muyaya announced that there would be a joint communication with Khassim Diagne, the Deputy Special Representative for Protection and Operations of MONUSCO, during the day on the specific casualties but also on the withdrawal process by MONUSCO from the DRC.
In June, MONUSCO has announced that it would close its office in DRC’s southeastern province of Tanganyika on June 30, 2022.
In a statement issued on late Monday, MONUSCO strongly condemned the disturbances in Goma.
“The incidents in Goma are not only unacceptable but totally counterproductive. MONUSCO is mandated by the Security Council to support the authorities in protecting civilians. It stands alongside 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 the authority of the State,” Diagne said in a statement.
Diagne also called for appeasement and restraint and called on the Congolese authorities, political actors, civil society and all the living forces of the DRC to denounce the acts of looting.
“It is not in chaos and confusion or division that we will make progress towards stabilization and peace”, he insisted, noting that MONUSCO is at the disposal of the authorities to continue to work together to restore peace and security with national and provincial institutions. Enditem
