DRC: Monusco bases attacked in Goma, the mission denounces "a very serious incident"
Blue helmets from Monusco patrol the streets of Goma, in the DRC, on Wednesday July 11, 2019. AFP PHOTO/PHIL MOORE
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Monusco bases were attacked on Monday July 25 in Goma, in the east of the DRC.
Hundreds of demonstrators stormed including two sites of the United Nations mission.
They were able to get inside and loot some equipment.
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The protest started early Monday morning.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Goma in a protest action against Monusco.
The UN mission, in the country for 22 years, now has 14,000 blue helmets.
But the violence in the east of the country continues, causing discontent among the population.
“
These security forces should work together and maybe change their strategy.
That way, maybe the situation will improve and this war will end in our country
,” said one of the demonstrators.
“
For more than 20 years, these forces have remained in our country, but their actions have yielded no results.
We want the United Nations to withdraw their forces from Congo because their presence has not achieved anything
,” adds another protester.
The protest eventually split in two and then degenerated.
The participants attacked the local headquarters of Monusco as well as its logistics base.
They climbed the walls before looting the premises, taking furniture, equipment, valuables... Several agents had to be evacuated by helicopter.
► To read also: DRC: the mandate of Monusco extended for one year
“
We are in the process of taking stock of the damage, which amounts to several hundred thousand dollars,
deplores Khassim Diagne, deputy head of the UN mission
.
We are extremely concerned by this very serious incident which, moreover, comes the day after hostile remarks and threats made by individuals against the United Nations asking that we leave the DRC.
One thinks, for example, of the comments made by the President of the Senate, Modeste Bahati, who had asked Monusco to "
pack
up " ten days ago.
The government has "
strongly condemned any form of attack against UN personnel and facilities
".
Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya promised that those responsible would be "
prosecuted and severely punished
".
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