GOMA, DRC, Aug 6 (NNN-IRIN) – Local authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), accompanied by family members, yesterday, buried the victims who died during the recent protests against the United Nations stabilisation mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) in Goma, capital of the north-eastern North Kivu province.
A total of 13 bodies were buried in the main cemetery in Goma, after a funeral ceremony organised by the military authorities of the province, at the request of the central government in Kinshasa, the capital of DRC.
Thousands of people, mainly the victims’ relatives, took part in the ceremony. According to the central government, at least 36 people have been killed across the region, during the recent protests against MONUSCO, deemed ineffective against local armed groups.
Since Jul 25, thousands of people have been protesting against MONUSCO in several towns across the country, for seeing little improvement in security, despite the presence of the UN mission for over two decades. Outrage at MONUSCO grew last Sunday, after the UN troops opened fire and killed several civilians in the town of Kasindi on the border with Uganda.
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed outrage at Sunday’s incident and apologised to the Congolese president, saying, the UN is totally committed to peace and to coordinating and working with the Congolese armed forces. He also stressed the need to establish accountability for these events.
The DRC announced an investigation jointly with the UN mission, to establish responsibility for the deaths during these demonstrations across towns since the beginning of the demonstrations.
The Congolese government announced earlier this week, to reassess the agreement on the withdrawal of the MONUSCO, amid escalating protests against the MONUSCO, in the eastern part of the country.– NNN-IRIN
