The UN peacekeeper Monusco has taken responsibility for the death of a demonstrator in a protest against the Blue Helmets in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to the information available, the UN mission is "responsible for the death of this young man," said a Monusco spokesman on Wednesday in Kinshasa.
The deadly incident had occurred on Tuesday in Beni. The Monusco has long been criticized because of its high cost and low efficiency, in recent days, the protests increased dramatically.
The young man had been fatally hit, "when he wanted to throw a Molotov cocktail," said Monusco boss Leila Zerrougui. The mission initiated an investigation into the incident. According to the report of a correspondent of the news agency AFP, about a hundred demonstrators and blue-helmet soldiers from Malawi faced each other during the disputes in Beni. Which Uno soldier shot at the demonstrators, the Monusco could not determine at first, according to their own information.
In Beni, Butembo and Goma there have been several demonstrations in recent days against the Monusco, which is accused of lack of protection of the civilian population from militia. According to military investigators, four people were killed on Monday. For Tuesday, the Monusco confirmed two deaths, one in Beni and one in Butembo.
In Goma, around a hundred students demonstrated against the Monusco on Wednesday. The police used tear gas against the protesters. One student was injured in the police operation, about ten demonstrators were arrested.
The area around Beni is rich in mineral resources - numerous rebel groups fight there against each other and against the army. In addition, Ebola has erupted, with more than 200 people dying of the epidemic over the past two months.