The death toll from Tuesday’s demonstrations against the deployment of UN peacekeepers from the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in North Kivu province (east) has risen to five, the DRC authorities have confirmed.
The head of the police in the territory of Nyiragongo, Iduma Molengo, confirmed in declarations to the Congolese news portal Actualité that «altercations took place between the population and a MONUSCO convoy arriving from Rutshuru» and detailed that «the population, more precisely displaced persons in the camp of Kanyaruchinya, blocked the road».
«They wanted to know what MONUSCO is doing in Rutshuru, especially because of the enemy’s occupation of the territory. They wanted to see if it was transporting the enemy,» he said, referring to the recent advances of the rebel group March 23 Movement (M23) in this part of the country.
«There was a misunderstanding and the population started to erect barricades, after which MONUSCO opened fire to force their way. On the side of the population there are five dead and eight wounded. There are three MONUSCO vehicles set on fire,» he said, hours after the UN mission confirmed three deaths in the incidents.
MONUSCO detailed that its convoy, which was returning from a supply mission, was attacked by demonstrators who had blocked the road in protest at the presence of the ‘blue helmets’. «In the process, the attackers set fire to four trucks in the convoy before stealing their cargo. Regrettably, three people have lost their lives during the scuffles, while peacekeepers and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) were trying to protect the convoy,» reads a statement.
The mission, which said that a joint investigation with the Congolese authorities will determine the circumstances, reiterated «its appeal to the population to facilitate the free movement of MONUSCO personnel, who provide operational support to the FARDC, ensure the protection of civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid».
For her part, MONUSCO chief Bintou Keita has condemned the violence during the demonstrations, which included looting and vandalism, and urged communities to refrain from using hate speech and inflammatory statements, according to a UN statement.
The situation has sparked further protests and early Wednesday new barricades were set up in the area to protest against the killing of civilians, including internally displaced persons. Innocent Banza, a witness, told Actualité that there are barricades at the entrance to the city of Goma, capital of the province.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
