New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday expressed grief over the death of two Indian peacekeepers of the BSF in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Deeply grieved at the loss of lives of two valiant Indian peacekeepers of the BSF in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They were part of the MONUSCO. The perpetrators of these outrageous attacks must be held accountable and brought to justice,” Jaishankar wrote on his Twitter handle.
Deeply grieved at the loss of lives of two valiant Indian peacekeepers of the BSF in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They were part of the MONUSCO.
The perpetrators of these outrageous attacks must be held accountable and brought to justice .
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 26, 2022
At least five people have been killed and nearly 50 injured during anti-UN demonstrations in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, as reported by international media.
“On 26 July, two BSF personnel of the UN Peace Keeping Contingent (MONUSCO) deployed at Butembo, Democratic Republic of Congo succumbed to fatal injuries during the violent armed protests,” a spokesperson for the border force said.
On Monday, hundreds of people blocked roads and raised hostile slogans before storming the headquarters of a UN peacekeeping mission and a military base. Protesters smashed windows and looted valuables, while helicopters airlifted UN staff from the compound and security forces fired tear gas to push them back.
“The crowd was repelled but they gathered again. There were reports that armed rebels had infiltrated the demonstrators,” said a senior officer, as reported by PTI.
The Indian Army, deployed under the UN peacekeeping mission in the African country of Congo, thwarted an attempt to loot when some armed men were trying to rob a hospital and United Nations property on Monday.
“Indian Army today thwarted attempts by certain civilian armed groups in Congo to loot Indian Army operating bases and Level III hospital by robust actions. The actions by Indian peacekeepers deployed there are strictly in accordance with UN mandate and rules of engagement,” ANI quoted Army officials as saying.
Also Read: Indian Army Thwarts Bid By Armed Groups To Loot Operating Bases, Hospital In Congo
The Army said there were reports of certain UN office complexes being ransacked and they were closely monitoring the situation.
“Indian Peacekeepers have ensured safety of UN personnel and property in locations of their deployment. The situation in UN peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO) had developed wherein certain civilian armed groups attempted large-scale looting of UN assets,” the Army said.
In a statement on May 24, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemned the attack and called it a “deliberate attack targeting peacekeepers”.