Congo to reassess UN withdrawal plan after deadly protests
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo will reassess the plan to withdraw the UN peacekeeping mission after deadly anti-UN attacks. protests last week, he said Monday evening, suggesting he could ask the force to leave earlier than planned.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO, said on Tuesday it supported the government's decision and was also ready to reassess its withdrawal plan, which currently maintains it at least two more years.
Thirty-six people, including four UN peacekeepers, were killed last week during violent protests in the east of the country, the government said.
Protesters accuse the mission of failing to protect civilians from militias that have wreaked havoc in the region for decades.
U.N. troops have been accused of responding with force, and in some cases live ammunition, as hundreds of protesters threw rocks and petrol bombs, vandalized and set fire to UN buildings.
In a plan drawn up last year, the United Nations laid out a set of minimum conditions that would be necessary for MONUSCO's withdrawal, which it aimed to achieve by the end of 2024.
“The transition plan was formulated in 2021. The political and security environment a year later has changed significantly,” said MONUSCO spokesperson Ndeye Khady Lo.
A government commission sent to assess the consequences of the protests found that 13 people died in clashes in the city of Goma, 13 others – including four peacekeepers – in Butembo and three in Kanyabayonga, the presidency said Congolese.
Four protesters were killed in the town of Uvira when soldiers fired shots that hit an electric cable that fell on them. Three civilians were killed when UN soldiers returning from leave opened fire on a border post in Kasindi.
About 170 people were injured, the commission added.
"During our talks, the population made a clear demand: to see MONUSCO leave the DRC," she said.
The United Nations condemned the violence and pledged to investigate alleged abuses on both sides with Congolese authorities.
MONUSCO, which took over from a previous UN operation in 2010, had more than 12,000 troops and 1,600 police deployed in Congo as of November 2021, according to its website.
Frustrations against the mission have been fueled by the recent resurgence of the M23 rebel group, which has displaced thousands of people.
Attacks by Islamic State-linked militants have also continued despite a year-long state of emergency and joint operations against them by the Congolese and Ugandan armies.
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The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo will reassess the plan to withdraw the UN peacekeeping mission after deadly anti-UN attacks. protests last week, he said Monday evening, suggesting he could ask the force to leave earlier than planned.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO, said on Tuesday it supported the government's decision and was also ready to reassess its withdrawal plan, which currently maintains it at least two more years.
Thirty-six people, including four UN peacekeepers, were killed last week during violent protests in the east of the country, the government said.
Protesters accuse the mission of failing to protect civilians from militias that have wreaked havoc in the region for decades.
U.N. troops have been accused of responding with force, and in some cases live ammunition, as hundreds of protesters threw rocks and petrol bombs, vandalized and set fire to UN buildings.
In a plan drawn up last year, the United Nations laid out a set of minimum conditions that would be necessary for MONUSCO's withdrawal, which it aimed to achieve by the end of 2024.
“The transition plan was formulated in 2021. The political and security environment a year later has changed significantly,” said MONUSCO spokesperson Ndeye Khady Lo.
A government commission sent to assess the consequences of the protests found that 13 people died in clashes in the city of Goma, 13 others – including four peacekeepers – in Butembo and three in Kanyabayonga, the presidency said Congolese.
Four protesters were killed in the town of Uvira when soldiers fired shots that hit an electric cable that fell on them. Three civilians were killed when UN soldiers returning from leave opened fire on a border post in Kasindi.
About 170 people were injured, the commission added.
"During our talks, the population made a clear demand: to see MONUSCO leave the DRC," she said.
The United Nations condemned the violence and pledged to investigate alleged abuses on both sides with Congolese authorities.
MONUSCO, which took over from a previous UN operation in 2010, had more than 12,000 troops and 1,600 police deployed in Congo as of November 2021, according to its website.
Frustrations against the mission have been fueled by the recent resurgence of the M23 rebel group, which has displaced thousands of people.
Attacks by Islamic State-linked militants have also continued despite a year-long state of emergency and joint operations against them by the Congolese and Ugandan armies.
READ ALSO IN NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
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