The United Nations said soldiers from the Intervention Brigade, returning from leave, opened fire at a border post.
Image for representation (Reuters)
highlighted
- UN peacekeepers opened fire in eastern Congo
- The United Nations said that people lost their lives and suffered serious injuries in the incident.
- The reason for the firing is yet to be ascertained
UN peacekeeping forces said on Sunday that soldiers returning from leave in the United Nations Intervention Brigade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo opened fire on a border post, killing unidentified people.
The incident at the Congo-Uganda border post in Kasindi in the restive eastern part of the country is the latest incident related to a peace campaign in Congo, known as MONUSCO, which has come under pressure from days of protests.
It was not clear why the soldiers opened fire.
Bintou Keita, the UN Secretary-General’s special representative in the Congo, said in a statement: “Many people have died and seriously injured in this serious incident.”
Keeta said the investigation has begun and the suspected criminals have been arrested.
“Faced with this unspeakable and irresponsible behaviour, the perpetrators of the shooting were identified and arrested until the conclusion of the investigation, which has already begun in cooperation with the Congolese authorities,” she said.
He said the country of origin of the soldiers has been contacted so that legal proceedings can be initiated immediately. He did not name the country.
Since the protests began last Monday, at least 20 people, including three peacekeepers, have been killed.
The protests were prompted by complaints that the mission had failed to protect civilians against militia violence that had erupted in the region for years.
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