The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday condemned looting against United Nations personnel and facilities in the northeastern part of the country.
Early Monday morning, angry demonstrators attacked the headquarters of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) in the city of Goma, capital of the northeastern province of North Kivu, according to local witnesses contacted by Xinhua, adding that protesters broke through and looted the compound of MONUSCO headquarters in Goma.
“The government is following very closely the situation in Goma following the call to demonstrate against MONUSCO,” DRC government spokesman Patrick Muyaya tweeted Monday, condemning any form of attack on personnel and facilities of MONUSCO.
The city of Goma has been home to most of MONUSCO’s logistical, administrative and operational base for the northeastern part of the country for several years following the instability of the security situation there.
In a statement issued late Monday, MONUSCO strongly denounced the attack on its premises in Goma, perpetrated by a group of looters on the sidelines of a demonstration.
“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 State authority,” said Khassim Diagne, deputy special representative for Protection and Operations of MONUSCO.
Diagne called for restraint by inviting the Congolese authorities, political actors, civil society, and all the living forces of the DRC to denounce these acts of looting.
“It is not in chaos and confusion or division that we will make progress toward stabilization and peace,” he insisted, adding that the Mission is at the disposal of the authorities to continue to work together to restore peace and security with national and provincial institutions. Enditem
