Congo: Three UN peacekeepers and at least 12 civilians were killed on Tuesday, a second day of anti-UN demonstrations in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, officials said.
The protests were triggered by complaints that the UN mission, known as MONUSCO, had failed to protect civilians from years of militia violence.
According to UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the violence, saying, "He emphasizes that any attack directed against UN peacekeepers may be a war crime and that these incidents are Calls on the Congolese authorities to investigate and swiftly bring those responsible. To justice."
Haque told reporters in New York that the demonstrations began in Goma on Monday and spread to Butembo on Tuesday, where a UN soldier and two UN police with the mission were killed.
UN peacekeepers were accused of retaliated with force in both cities after hundreds of protesters threw stones and petrol bombs, ransacked and set UN buildings on fire.
A Reuters reporter saw two protesters killed by UN peacekeepers in Goma, where government spokesman Patrick Muya said at least five people were killed and 50 wounded.
At least seven civilians were killed and an unknown number injured, according to Butembo Police Chief Paul Ngoma. For years, allegations of abuse have plagued UN peacekeeping missions. "Obviously, if UN forces have any responsibility for any injuries or deaths, we will investigate," Haq said.
He said UN forces were told to use tear gas to disperse protesters and only fire warning shells if necessary. The protest was organized by a faction of the ruling party's youth wing, which has demanded that the UN mission be withdrawn due to its ineffectiveness.
In recent months, thousands of people have been displaced in eastern Congo as clashes between local troops and the M23 rebel group resumed. Despite a year-long state of emergency and joint operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces, attacks by Islamic State-linked militants continue.
In 2010, MONUSCO took over from an earlier UN operation. As of November 2021, MONUSCO had over 12,000 soldiers and 1,600 police officers stationed, and has been slowly retreating over the years. It is one of the largest peacekeeping operations in the world.
Protesters also stormed the homes of UN activists in Goma, prompting the mission to move its staff to the camps. A Reuters reporter saw employees being evacuated in an army convoy.
According to India's foreign minister, two of the peacekeepers who died were Indians. Ngoma said the third was Morocco. According to diplomats, the UN Security Council was apprised of the situation behind closed doors on Tuesday.
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