At least five people were killed and more than 50 others injured as protests broke out in DR Congo’s eastern city of Goma Monday, a government spokesman told Reuters. In the early hours of Monday, July 25, Goma residents stormed the United Nations base demanding the departure of UN peacekeepers for failing to protect them in a region characterised by insecurity. Several videos and photos showed hundreds of people blocking roads and chanting anti-UN slogans before storming the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission and its logistical base, smashing windows and looting computers, furniture and other valuables. Congolese troops were also seen carrying loot. Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said further information would be provided later, on the human and logistical toll of the protests. Reports also indicate that police and several security organs had been deployed to the scene to ensure cease of fire. Protesters claim the UN mission has been part of the insecurity problems in eastern DR Congo instead of providing a solution. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has long come under criticismfor its perceived inability to bring about peace to the conflict-torn region. The force is said to be running on a hefty budget of US$1.4 billion annually. Over 120 armed groups roam the volatile eastern region of DR Congo, where conflict has displaced millions of people.
