(Goma) Three demonstrators were killed Tuesday evening in the “violent attack” of a UN convoy north of Goma, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, announced the UN mission in DRC (Monusco).
“The Blue Helmets were returning from a supply mission in Kiwanja”, about 70 km north of the provincial capital of North Kivu, and were going to Goma, “accompanied by FARDC” (Congolese soldiers), specifies Monusco in a press release.
Shortly before arriving in Goma, “they were attacked by demonstrators who had previously barricaded the road with large stones, thus forcing the convoy to stop”.
The “attackers” then set fire to four trucks from which they “stealed the cargo”. “Three people unfortunately lost their lives during the scuffles”, while the peacekeepers and the FARDC “tried to protect the convoy”, adds Monusco.
“A joint investigation with the Congolese authorities will determine the circumstances of these regrettable deaths,” she said.
Demonstrations have multiplied since last year against Monusco, accused by residents of ineffectiveness in the face of the dozens of armed groups that have plagued eastern DRC for nearly 30 years, in particular the M23, a rebel movement in the offensive since the end of 2021 in the province of North Kivu.
The same kind of hostility has begun to emerge recently against the East African regional force deployed in eastern DRC, accused by the population of “passivity” in the face of the M23 rebels.
The head of Monusco, Bintou Keita, “compasses with the families of the disappeared and presents her sincere condolences”, further indicates the press release from the UN mission. “It reiterates its appeal to the population to facilitate the free movement of Monusco personnel,” he adds.