U.N. Condemns Congo’s Use of Force Against Protesters and Monitors<br />United Nations human rights monitors in Kinshasa had verified the deaths of six people but were investigating reports<br />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.<br />During the protests, Congolese security forces attacked a United Nations human rights official who was monitoring the events, throwing him to the ground<br />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.<br />23, 2018<br />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,<br />and attacked a United Nations official monitoring the protests.<br />The security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to break up demonstrations in Kinshasa on Dec. 31, and Ms. Shamdasani said<br />that their actions left nine people dead and 98 injured.<br />The team of monitors he was with initially retreated<br />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.<br />Ms. Shamdasani also said that 68 people were injured and 121 people were arrested during the demonstrations.
