5 killed, 50 injured on second day of demonstrations in Congo’s Goma
New Delhi:
A spokesman for the force said two Border Security Force personnel who were part of a UN peacekeeping mission in the Congo were killed on Tuesday during violent protests.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he was deeply saddened by the loss of two brave Indian peacekeepers and demanded that the perpetrators of the “outrageous attacks” should be held accountable and brought to justice.
The minister expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
The two soldiers were part of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission – MONUSCO in DR Congo.
At least five people were killed and about 50 others injured on the second day of demonstrations in the Congo’s eastern city of Goma against the UN mission in the country, according to international media.
“On July 26, two BSF personnel of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (MONUSCO) stationed in Butembo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, succumbed to fatal injuries during a violent armed protest,” a spokesman for the Border Force said.
Officials said about two platoons or around 70-74 BSF personnel were deployed in the area that was included in May this year.
He said locals had called for demonstrations and agitations against Monusco throughout the Congo and that the situation in Goma (about 350 km south of Beni and a large Monusco base) had turned violent and protesters looted UN property. and set on fire. Beni and Butembo (two BSF platoons deployed each) were on high alert. A senior official said Monday passed off peacefully. However, today the situation in Butembo turned violent. The camp of Morocco Rapid Deployment BN where BSF platoons are stationed was surrounded by protesters.
Congolese Police (PNC) and Congolese Army (FARDC) troops arrived but could not control the estimated crowd of more than 500 people. The BSF and other security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd but they were successful in breaching the perimeter wall at three different places.
“The mob was dispersed but they regrouped. There were reports that armed insurgents had infiltrated the protesters,” the official said.
“Deeply saddened at the loss of two brave Indian peacekeepers of BSF in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They were part of MONUSCO,” Mr Jaishankar said on Twitter.
“The perpetrators of these outrageous attacks must be held accountable and brought to justice.”