Civilians attack UN peacekeeping convoy in DRC’s east

Hundreds of displaced people who fled the advance of the M23 (March 23 Movement) rebellion wait for a distribution of biscuits at an informal camp in Kanyaruchinya, the northern district of Goma, on November 2, 2022. Picture: Alexis Huguet /AFP

Hundreds of displaced people who fled the advance of the M23 (March 23 Movement) rebellion wait for a distribution of biscuits at an informal camp in Kanyaruchinya, the northern district of Goma, on November 2, 2022. Picture: Alexis Huguet /AFP

Published Nov 3, 2022

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Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo - Civilians attacked a United Nations peacekeeping convoy in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday evening, injuring two people, the UN mission said on Wednesday.

The convoy was attacked when it stopped at an army checkpoint near an internally displaced persons site in Kanyarutshinya, 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the city of Goma.

A crowd assembled and threw stones at the convoy, setting fire to at least one truck, the UN mission, Monusco, said on Twitter. UN peacekeepers fired warning shots into the air and finally left the zone, it said.

Frustration has grown in the region this year with the UN mission, which civilians accuse of failing to protect them from worsening militia violence. Dozens were killed in anti-UN protests in July.

Fighting resumed between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army on October 20, causing at least 90 000 people to flee their homes since. The UN and the African Union have urged a de-escalation and immediate end to the hostilities.

"Our wish is that Monusco leaves our country. Because we don't see why they are here," said Jackson Fiki Kalimunda, 29, who fled from his home to Kanyarutshinya because of the conflict.

Earlier on Tuesday, the UN announced a "strategic and tactical" withdrawal of 450 peacekeepers from Rumangabo, located further north, near Virunga Park.