48 dead in crackdown on anti-UN protest in eastern DR Congo

author: FutureCar Staff    

At least 48 people have been killed in a crackdown on an anti-UN protest in eastern DR Congo, according to sources and official documentation reviewed by AFP on Thursday. The incident occurred when Congolese soldiers stopped a religious sect from holding a demonstration against United Nations peacekeepers in the city of Goma. Initially, 10 people were reported killed after the troops entered a radio station and a place of worship. A policeman was also lynched in the violence.

However, an internal army document revealed that the death toll was much higher. The document, verified by security officials, stated that 48 people were killed in the incident, in addition to the slain policeman, with 75 people wounded. The soldiers also seized bladed weapons and arrested 168 individuals, including the leader of the Christian-animist sect named "Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith towards the Nations". The Congolese pro-democracy activist group LUCHA also confirmed that the number of people killed was close to 50.

The government released a statement late on Thursday, acknowledging a death toll of "43 dead, with 56 injured and 158 people apprehended, including the sect leader". It expressed support for the investigation opened by the military auditor to bring those responsible to justice.

Two unverified video clips circulating on social media appeared to show Congolese soldiers throwing lifeless bodies, some covered in blood, into the back of a military vehicle. Human Rights Watch condemned the actions, stating that Congolese security forces shot and killed dozens of protesters and wounded many more. The organisation called for the suspension, investigation, and fair and public trials of senior military officials who ordered the use of unlawful lethal force.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's east has been plagued by militia violence for decades, a consequence of regional wars that occurred in the 1990s and 2000s. Despite the presence of the UN peacekeeping mission, many people in the country criticize the peacekeepers for failing to prevent conflict. Last year, numerous anti-UN protests took place across eastern Congo, resulting in the deaths of dozens, including four peacekeepers.

The recent violence adds to the ongoing debate surrounding the departure of the UN peacekeeping force, MONUSCO, from the DRC. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have both expressed their opinions on the matter. Tshisekedi stated that there was no reason for MONUSCO to remain beyond the December 2023 presidential election. Guterres, on the other hand, mentioned that the peacekeeping mission is in its final phase but did not provide a specific departure date.

MONUSCO continues to face popular discontent and frustration over its perceived inaction. UN officials acknowledge the frustrations but argue that the force is often subjected to disinformation campaigns. Currently, MONUSCO has approximately 16,000 uniformed personnel deployed in Congo's mineral-rich east. However, militias still maintain control over much of the region, as seen with the M23 group capturing territory in North Kivu province since 2021. While some nations and UN experts accuse Rwanda of supporting the Tutsi-led M23, Rwanda denies these allegations.

FutureCar Staff