The AU condemns the attacks and calls for “an immediate cessation of all forms of violence” against MONUSCO personnel
July 29 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The United Nations has denounced a new attack carried out on Thursday with Molotov cocktails against a base of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in the city of Beni and has expressed its concern about the information that indicates that militiamen mai- mai would have joined the recent demonstrations against the ‘blue helmets’.
The deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary General, Farhan Haq, acknowledged that the situation “is tense and fragile” and lamented that “protesters continue to attack bases of UN peacekeeping troops, although to a lesser extent than in the days before”.
In this sense, it has confirmed that “in a camp in Uvira, protesters briefly crossed the perimeter and damaged some vehicles”, while in Beni “the protesters threw Molotov cocktails at the Boikene base”. “An attempt to break into the Madiba complex was prevented,” she added.
Haq has also stressed that the organization is “concerned” by the information about the fact that “mai-mai fighters have joined the protesters to reinforce the demonstrations.” “Threats continue to circulate against the mission through social networks,” he denounced.
For this reason, he has emphasized that “MONUSCO remains on alert and continues to work closely with local security forces and interact with national authorities, civil society and community groups to restore confidence and calm.”
“We acknowledge the efforts of political and community actors to restore calm by asking people to avoid violence against the mission. Particularly in Goma, Nyamilina and Rwindi, the increased presence of national security forces near our compounds has helped to deter violence against UN personnel and bases,” Haq explained.
Lastly, he stressed that “MONUSCO is prepared to work with the Congolese authorities to investigate incidents in which demonstrators were killed or injured.” “The mission also continues its work with the DRC authorities and population to protect civilians, deter armed groups and build the capacities of state institutions and services,” it concluded.
Haq himself indicated on Tuesday that the attack perpetrated against a MONUSCO base in Butembo in the context of these protests, which resulted in the death of a ‘blue helmet’ and two policemen from the mission, could amount to a crime of war.
For his part, the president of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has shown his “concern” about the situation in eastern DRC and has “vigorously” condemned “incitement to hatred” and “Attacks against MONUSCO”.
Faki Mahamat has called for calm to allow the initiatives launched by the organization, led by the Angolan president, Joao Lourenço, and the East African Community in favor of peace “to continue”.
Along these lines, he has called for “an immediate cessation of all forms of violence by the population and armed groups against people, goods and the UN mission in the DRC” and has called on the authorities to “adopt all necessary measures to end the violence and restore calm to the region.
MONUSCO has been deployed in the northeast of the African country for more than 20 years, in an attempt to shore up peace in the country despite the presence of some 130 armed groups that are vying for control of the vast natural resources of the DRC, including copper, cobalt, gold and diamonds.
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