The number of people killed and injured after UN forces opened fire at a border checkpoint in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is unknown, according to the UN.
A video of the incident that was circulated on social media showed individuals approaching the stopped UN convoy in Kasindi from behind a locked barrier, at least one of them was wearing a police uniform and another who was wearing an army uniform. The settlement is located in the Beni region of the eastern DRC, close to Uganda's border.The peacekeepers seemed to commence fire after a verbal dispute before unlocking the gate, driving on while shooting while civilians fled or hid.
The MONUSCO force's intervention brigade opened fire at the border station during this event after returning from leave for an unknown cause, according to a statement released on Sunday by the UN mission in Kasindi.
"This tragic occurrence resulted in fatalities and severe injuries."
Bintou Keita, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DR Congo, announced that an investigation had started and the suspected offenders had been taken into custody.The shooters were identified and detained pending the results of the inquiry, which has already begun in coordination with the Congolese authorities, she said. "Faced with this awful and reckless behavior," she added.
She continued by saying that the country of origin of the soldiers had been contacted in order to launch urgent legal actions. She omitted to mention the nation.
Meanwhile, Antonio Guterres, the head of the UN, expressed his "outrage" at the occurrence and called for "accountability." According to a UN statement, Guterres was "saddened and appalled" to learn about the shooting by the peacekeeping team.
Eight individuals, including two policemen who were stationed at the barrier, were critically hurt in the event, according to Barthelemy Kambale Siva, the North Kivu governor's agent in Kasindi.Siva declined to provide an explanation for why the UN convoy was unable to pass the barrier when speaking to the AFP news agency.The DRC's turbulent east is home to more than 120 armed factions. In 1999, the UN sent its initial observation team to the area.It was renamed MONUSCO, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in 2010 and given the authority to carry out offensive operations.
According to the UN, there have been 230 fatalities among them.
Several towns in the eastern DRC saw fatal protests last week calling for the UN to leave.
Three peacekeepers were among the 19 fatalities overall.
Perceptions that MONUSCO is not doing enough to halt attacks by the armed groups have fueled anger.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, visited the nation on Saturday to "speak to the Congolese authorities," according to him.In order to accomplish their goals, "[they would] look at ways we can both prevent a repetition of these awful situations and, above all, work better together," he stated.
"We hope the requirements will be fulfilled, in particular the restoration of state authority, so that MONUSCO may finish its mandate as quickly as possible – and to make place for other forms of international assistance."
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