Anti-MONUSCO protests
| Anti-MONUSCO protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-MONUSCO protests in the DR Congo Part of the Kivu conflict | |||
| Date | 25 July 2022 – present | ||
| Location | |||
| Goals |
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| Methods | |||
| Status | Ongoing | ||
| Parties | |||
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| Lead figures | |||
Uncentralized | |||
| Casualties | |||
| Death(s) | 19+ | ||
| Injuries | 50 | ||
Since 25 July 2022, anti-MONUSCO protests have manifested in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The protests were against MONUSCO, the United Nations' peacekeeping force in the country, which has been accused by Congolese politicians and civilians of failing to take action to end the decades-old conflict within the country. The protestors demand that MONUSCO leave the country.
Protests
On 25 July 2022, protests began in the Congolese city of Goma against MONUSCO, which the protestors accused of failing to take action to end the decades-old conflict within the country, and more protests later manifested the following day in Beni and Butembo. According to MONUSCO, protestors stole weapons from the police, and vandalized and looted UN facilities,[1] forcing UN personnel to evacuate the MONUSCO headquarters in Goma via a helicopter airlift.[2]
Deaths
According to Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, five people were killed and a futher 50 more were injured in Goma. Colonel Paul Ngoma, the police chief of Butembo, stated that seven people were killed in the city, and MONUSCO stated that one peacekeeper and two BSF police officers were also killed in Butembo.[1][3] On 27 July, four protestors were electrocuted by an electrical cable which was downed by UN soldiers.[4]
Reactions
United Nations: Farhan Haq, a spokesperson for the United Nations, stated: "He [António Guterres] underscores that any attack directed against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute a war crime and calls upon the Congolese authorities to investigate these incidents and swiftly bring those responsible to justice."[5]
References
- ^ a b "At Least 15 Killed as Anti-UN Protests Spread in Eastern DR Congo". Al Jazeera. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- ^ "Protesters Demand UN Troops Leave DRC Amid Rising Conflict". Al Jazeera. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- ^ "Two BSF Men Part of UN Peacekeeping Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo Killed". The Indian Express. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- ^ Peyton, Nellie; Christensen, Sofia (27 July 2022). Janowski, Tomasz; Ellis, Aurora (eds.). "Four Civilians Electrocuted During Congo Anti-U.N. Protests". Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- ^ "Guterres Says Attack on UN in Congo may be War Crime, Asks for Investigation". France 24. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
Further reading
- "DR Congo: 15 Bamaze Gupfa mu Mvururu, MONUSCO Irahakana Kwica Abigaragambya" [DR Congo: 15 killed in riots, MONUSCO denies killing protesters]. BBC (in Kinyarwanda). 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.