NAN-F-
Protest
Goma (Congo), March 1, 2017 (dpa/NAN) A UN report on Wednesday accused Congolese police and army of excessive use of force in containing demonstrations against President Joseph Kabila.
The report said at least 40 people were killed by security forces in December.
It added that “nearly all the victims, including two children, were shot dead during protests in Kinshasa, Lumumbashi and other cities between Dec. 15 and Dec. 31.
“More than 150 people were injured and 917 arrested during protests in the same period.
“Demonstrators also committed some acts of violence, including the killing of a police officer on Dec. 20.”
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Al-Hussein, also accused the government of “serious violations of human rights in total impunity by security
forces.”
However, Human Rights Minister Marie-Ange Likulia said soldiers never received orders to fire on demonstrators and that only isolated cases of “gaffes” were reported.
Also, government Spokesman Lambert Mende questioned the accuracy of the UN report, saying “where are all the mourning families of those who disappeared.”
The central African country was plunged into turmoil in 2016 by the government’s decision to postpone elections which was due in November 2016.
Dozens were killed in protests against the postponement, which many Congolese regarded as a ploy to allow Kabila to stay in power beyond the constitutional two-term limit.
Meanwhile, the government and opposition leaders agreed on Dec. 31 that elections would be held by the end of this year. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/HA
=======
Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu