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U.N. Congo Mission To Determine If 28 Killed Were Civilians

   Peter Clottey 07 June 2010
   UN Mission in Democratic Republic of Congno and DRC soldiers get ready
   to deploy from Gemena (2009 file photo)

Photo: AFP

   UN Mission in Democratic Republic of Congno and DRC soldiers get ready
   to deploy from Gemena (2009 file photo)

   An  official  with  the  U.N.  Peacekeeping  Mission in the Democratic
   Republic  of  Congo  (MONUC)  said  the  group  will  be  launching an
   investigation  into  the deaths of at least 28 people allegedly killed
   by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, or FARDC.

   MONUC  spokesman  Madnoudje Mounoubai said fierce fighting between the
   national  army  and  the  rebel Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda
   (FDLR) group over the weekend contributed to the loss of life.

   âThere  was  confrontation  between  the  FARDC and the FDLR. And, the
   information  we  receive  (is  that) 28 people were killed during this
   attack,  none  of  them  FARDC.  So, supposedly, all of them should be
   FDLR.  But,  as  usual, whenever we receive such information, we, as a
   routine,  launch an investigation to determine if there is no civilian
   among the casualties,â he said.

   But,  Walikale residents in the restive north Kivu province blamed the
   national army for killing unarmed civilians.

   MONUC  spokesman  Mounoubai  said  the  investigation  will  ascertain
   whether those killed were rebels or ordinary unarmed civilians.

   âThat  is  what  the  investigation  is  for  to determine exactly the
   identity  of those who were killed. As you know, the FDLR doesnât wear
   uniforms,  so  they  usually  are  in civilian clothing. So, only (an)
   investigation  will  tell  us if those people were FDLR or civilians,â
   Mounoubai said.

   With  about  20,000  peacekeepers  in the D.R.C., MONUC is the largest
   U.N. Mission to a single country with an estimated budget of more than
   $1 billion.

   The U.N. Security Council mandated its peacekeepers âuse all necessary
   measuresâ  to  protect  Congoâs  unarmed  civilian  population against
   violence perpetrated by various armed groups.

   Mounoubai  said  MONUC  will  work  closely  with  the  government  to
   investigate the allegations against the national army.

   âAs  a matter of principle, we always work with the government and the
   FARDC to put together a joint team with the government. So, we have to
   do that first before the investigation itself starts,â Mounoubai.

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