Human Rights Watch condemns the killing of tens of civilians by the army in DR Congo

  Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized the army of the Democratic Republic of Congo for killing dozens of civilians who were protesting against the United Nations forces. It comes after the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced that at least 43 people were killed when soldiers broke up a civilian protest against United Nations peacekeepers in the eastern city of Goma on Wednesday. 56 protesters were injured and more than 150 have been arrested, including a religious sect leader. Earlier, authorities said one policeman was stoned to death, and that six protesters were killed when the army intervened. However, the information released later by the Congo DR government said the number of people who died has reached 43, while 158 people were arrested. It said it has launched an investigation to find out what caused the disaster.

The statement issued by Human Rights Watch (HRW) said, officials "who ordered the use of illegal force should be suspended, investigated, and held accountable in fair and public proceedings". It said the soldiers appeared to have fired into the crowd to prevent anti-UN protests, calling it a "vicious and illegal way to enforce the ban". Human Rights Watch has confirmed two videos showing soldiers throwing the corpses of dead people into the back of a truck. It will be remembered that the protest against the presence of MONUSCO forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that took place in July 2022 resulted in the deaths of more than 15 people, including 3 peacekeeping soldiers in Goma and in the city of Butembo.