5 killed, 50 injured in anti-U.N. protests in east Congo
PBS NewsHourSep 09, 2022
The Facts
Members of the UN peacekeeping force MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reportedly killed at least two Congolese and injured 15 on Sun. at a border post in the northeastern town of Kasindi.
According to the UN, two soldiers returning from leave opened fire on the post in the border town with Uganda in the DRC's North Kivu province for "unexplained reasons."
The Spin
Narrative A
The UN mission in Congo is failing primarily because its static approach doesn't take into account the structural and multidimensional causes of the conflict. This gives the not entirely unjustified impression that MONUSCO is pouring oil on the fire rather than stabilizing the situation. MONUSCO must work with the government in Kinshasa on long-term solutions. Security sector reform is essential in this situation.
Narrative B
It's primarily the responsibility of the government in Kinshasa to ensure peace, security, and stability in the east of the country, not that of MONUSCO. The government has failed to fulfil this duty, and the recent anti-UN protests are a product of political manipulation.
