This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/africa/582350-un-congo-protests-death-toll/

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Death toll from Congo anti-UN protests rises to 100 – media Death toll from anti-UN protests in DR Congo rises – media
(about 2 hours later)
The bodies of those shot were recovered from bushes, according to the leader of a coalition of youth organizations The bodies of those shot have been recovered from bushes, bringing the death toll to 100, according to a coalition of youth organizations
The number of people killed in anti-United Nations protests last week in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 100, the Anadolu Agency reported on Monday, citing the head of a coalition of youth organizations in the country.The number of people killed in anti-United Nations protests last week in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 100, the Anadolu Agency reported on Monday, citing the head of a coalition of youth organizations in the country.
Lucas Pecos, the director of the Collective of Youth Solidarity Organizations in Congo-Kinshasa, DRC (COJESKI-RDC), told the Turkish outlet on Sunday that they had documented 57 corpses at the Goma Provincial Hospital’s mortuary. The toll increased after the bodies of those who were shot while fleeing from a church were recovered from the surrounding bushes, Pecos added. The toll increased after the bodies of those who were shot while allegedly fleeing from a church were recovered from the surrounding bushes, Lucas Pecos, the director of the Collective of Youth Solidarity Organizations in Congo-Kinshasa (COJESKI-RDC), told the Turkish outlet.
Pecos on Wednesday accused the Congolese army of carrying out a massacre, as part of efforts to suppress protests against the UN’s MONUSCO peacekeeping mission in the area, adding that 57 corpses had been documented at the Goma Provincial Hospital’s mortuary. 
“We have also confirmed that there are 43 bodies of people killed in the church and its surroundings being kept at the Katinda military barracks mortuary, bringing the total to 100. The barracks is located a few kilometers from Goma,” he said.“We have also confirmed that there are 43 bodies of people killed in the church and its surroundings being kept at the Katinda military barracks mortuary, bringing the total to 100. The barracks is located a few kilometers from Goma,” he said.
On Wednesday, the COJESKI-RDC accused the Congolese army of carrying out a massacre at a church in Goma, North Kivu province, as part of efforts to suppress protests against the UN’s MONUSCO peacekeeping mission in the area. Pecos also added that the protesters, who were part of a movement called Wazalendo and a church group called Messiahans, were preparing to attack a nearby MONUSCO base.
The Congolese government put the death toll at 43 on Thursday, with 56 injured. Another 158 people were arrested, the authorities said, accusing them of carrying out “actions that undermined public order.”The Congolese government put the death toll at 43 on Thursday, with 56 injured. Another 158 people were arrested, the authorities said, accusing them of carrying out “actions that undermined public order.”
The UN mission condemned the killings and urged Kinshasa to launch a “prompt” and “independent” investigation into the incident.The UN mission condemned the killings and urged Kinshasa to launch a “prompt” and “independent” investigation into the incident.
Locals have protested the presence of the UN mission in the East African country for years, claiming that it has failed to fulfill its mandate of protecting them from years of militia violence. Locals have protested the presence of the UN mission in the East African country for years, claiming that it has failed to fulfill its mandate of protecting them from militia violence.
Last year, a similar protest against MONUSCO killed at least 15 people, including three peacekeepers, as heavily armed UN troops clashed with hundreds of civilians wielding rocks and petrol bombs, vandalizing and torching the international mission’s buildings. Last year, at least 15 people, including three peacekeepers, were killed in a similar protest against MONUSCO, as heavily armed UN troops clashed with hundreds of civilians wielding rocks and petrol bombs, vandalizing and torching the international mission’s buildings.
A Congolese military court sentenced 51 people to death in 2022 for their roles in the murder of two UN experts in the country.A Congolese military court sentenced 51 people to death in 2022 for their roles in the murder of two UN experts in the country.
On Thursday, the UN mission stated that it remains concerned about threats of violence and emphasized the “importance of peaceful resolution of disputes and conflicts through inclusive dialogue.”On Thursday, the UN mission stated that it remains concerned about threats of violence and emphasized the “importance of peaceful resolution of disputes and conflicts through inclusive dialogue.”