U.N. Condemns Congo’s Use of Force Against Protesters and Monitors

U.N. Condemns Congo’s Use of Force Against Protesters and Monitors
United Nations human rights monitors in Kinshasa had verified the deaths of six people but were investigating reports
that four more people had been killed and believed the number of fatalities could rise, said Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the United Nations human rights office in Geneva.
During the protests, Congolese security forces attacked a United Nations human rights official who was monitoring the events, throwing him to the ground
and kicking and punching him even though he was wearing a blue vest clearly identifying him as a member of the United Nations human rights office.
23, 2018
GENEVA — The United Nations on Tuesday expressed alarm over mounting repression in the Democratic Republic of Congo after security forces fired on anti-government protesters, killing at least six people,
and attacked a United Nations official monitoring the protests.
The security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to break up demonstrations in Kinshasa on Dec. 31, and Ms. Shamdasani said
that their actions left nine people dead and 98 injured.
The team of monitors he was with initially retreated
but later returned to observe the protests, and the security forces then fired tear gas at monitors in three vehicles, restricting their movements and preventing them from observing developments.
Ms. Shamdasani also said that 68 people were injured and 121 people were arrested during the demonstrations.