According to Sources, two BSF members of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were among the five persons killed at an anti-UN demonstration in a city in the east, close to the conflict-torn nation’s border with Uganda.
“Deeply saddened by the deaths of two brave Indian BSF peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They belonged to MONUSCO. These heinous assaults must be condemned and their perpetrators brought to justice. Sincere sympathies to the families of the deceased”, said the Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar.
The BSF claims that the demonstration in Butembo was a part of a week-long appeal for protests and agitations against the MONUSCO UN deployment.
‘How did the incident happen’ :
“Yesterday, there was looting and the setting on fire of UN property in Goma, which is around 350 kilometres south of Beni and home to a sizable MONUSCO base. High alert was in effect in Butembo and Beni (where two BSF platoons have been stationed since June 2, 2022). Yesterday went without incident. Butembo’s situation erupted into violence today, stated by a BSF personnel.
Demonstrators were gathered around Deployable Battalion (MORRDB), where the BSF battalions are stationed. According to BSF officials, the gathering of more than 500 individuals was too large for the Congolese Army (FARDC) and Police (PNC). According to BSF officials, “At first, they engaged in stone pelting. They (the crowd) managed to breach the surrounding wall at three different locations despite the efforts of MORRDB and BSF forces to control the situation. The mob was driven away, but they soon collected again”.
The second assault was more ferocious and was followed by small-arms fire (automatics). Indian and Moroccan soldiers fired in self-defense. Still occurring are sporadic firings. Two BSF members died as a result of their injuries. MORRDB also lost one person to death. The UN Force’s (Army component) reinforcements were en route.
‘Number of persons injured in the attack’ :
According to the Associated Press, the protests on Tuesday are believed to have injured 50 people. “On Monday, protesters burned down the UN mission offices in Goma and broke down their doors, blaming the peacekeeping troops failure to defend civilians in the face of escalating violence in the Congo’s eastern area. As per AP reports, they are requesting the departure of UN forces that have been stationed in Congo for years.
In Butembo, North Kivu, on Tuesday, an attack on the MONUSCO base resulted in the deaths of a blue helmet and two UNPOL officers. Another suffered a critical injury. Attackers fired point-blank shots at our peacekeeping soldiers after aggressively stealing firearms from members of the National Police Congolese Army. MONUSCO pays respect to the memories of these brave troops who lost their lives in the line of duty and sends healing vibes to the blue helmet who was hurt. It strongly denounces this assault.
He further added that, without going into detail about what led to the deaths, the DR Congo government spokesman described the security and peacekeeping troops’ response as “warning shots to disperse the demonstrators and avoid any attack on the MONUSCO base and installations”. In order to ensure a return to peace and the regular resumption of activities in Goma, the administration has directed the security forces to take all necessary precautions.
There are numerous reports of casualties among the attackers. The Mission has been forced to exercise discretion in dealing with the attackers and the savage attacks that its bases and employees have endured. MONUSCO promises to diligently assist the relevant authorities in any inquiry they may desire to conduct in order to ascertain the facts.
The mission has more than 16,000 uniformed people in Congo, according to the UN. According to the AP, the protests are occurring as violence between Congolese army and the M23 rebels has intensified, driving over 200,000 people from their homes.
image credit : shutterstock
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