DRC: anti-UN demonstrators dispersed by warning shots in Beni

Police fired tear gas and soldiers fired into the air to disperse two columns of dozens of anti-Monusco demonstrators in the city of Beni at the call of pro-democracy movements, noted the correspondent of AFP in Beni (North Kivu, east).

DRC: anti-UN demonstrators dispersed by warning shots in Beni

Police fired tear gas and soldiers fired into the air to disperse two columns of dozens of anti-Monusco demonstrators in the city of Beni at the call of pro-democracy movements, noted the correspondent of AFP in Beni (North Kivu, east).

Congolese security forces set up tents and erected security perimeters in front of Monusco facilities in the city of Beni. The blue helmets have also reinforced the security measures of their installations with armored vehicles and battle tanks, the AFP correspondent noted.

"We are facing a force that has all the military, logistical and financial means to put an end to the activities of armed groups. Consequently, it does not use them, we are asking for the departure of these tourists," said Losuire Shabani. , from the pro-democracy movement Struggle for Change (Lucha).

"We will demonstrate until we actually get this departure now that peacekeepers are killing us instead of armed militiamen," he added, as he launched messages to galvanize demonstrators. Monusco has been present in the DRC since 1999 with the mission of neutralizing the hundred local and foreign armed groups active in eastern Congo.

On Sunday, peacekeepers returning from leave in Uganda opened fire before opening the barrier and crossing the Congolese border at the Kasindi border post in Beni. Two people were killed and 15 injured.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was "outraged", Monusco treated this shooting as a "serious incident", "unspeakable and irresponsible", while the Congolese government condemned this incident and called on the population "quiet".