AT LEAST 60 people have been arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after days of protests demanding the United Nations leave the country for its failure to stop jihadist violence in the region.
Hundreds of young people have blocked roads during demonstrations that have taken place in a number of cities in eastern DRC, including Beni, where police opened fire to disperse crowds on Thursday.
On Thursday evening, Beni police spokesman Nasson Murara said officers had cleared the barricades and made about 60 arrests.
“Young people have barricaded almost all the roads to ask the UN mission to leave this region plagued by massacre,” Beni Mayor Modeste Buhindo Bakwanamaha said.
Heavy gunfire started about 7am (05:00 GMT) and could be heard until the late afternoon, a witness told Reuters.
Local police spokesman Nasson Murara said officers had cleared the barricades and made about 60 arrests. “We have just got the situation under control after a very tense day.”
‘Act up or pack up’
At least one protester was seriously wounded by gunshot, LUCHA said, adding that protests also took place in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, where Beni also belongs. The casualty count could not be independently confirmed.
“The violent crackdown on peaceful protests today in Beni, Goma [and] Butembo is a blatant violation of people’s rights,” Thomas Fessy, senior DRC researcher for Human Rights Watch, said on Twitter, calling for the immediate release of those arrested.
08 April 2021 - 19:22 By Erikas Mwisi Kambale At least one protester was seriously injured by gunshot, youth activist group LUCHA said, adding that protests also took place in the provincial capital Goma. Image: REUTERS/Kenny Katombe
Congolese police detained scores of protesters and fired live rounds on Thursday to disperse crowds demanding the departure of the United Nations peacekeeping mission from the city of Beni, local authorities and witnesses said.
Hundreds of young people have been protesting in several cities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since Monday, angry that the UN mission, known as MONUSCO, has failed to prevent a wave of civilian killings by armed groups.