Police fired tear gas at protesters in eastern Congo on Wednesday after dozens of people took part in an unauthorized protest in Goma against the presence of foreign troops to help quell violence by armed groups.
The authorities later detained some participants, as well as some journalists covering the protest.
Leaders of the seven-nation East African Community resolved last year to create and deploy a regional force in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group is blamed for the rising violence.
Kenyan troops arrived late last year and another contingent from South Sudan was expected in the coming days. However, the troops have faced opposition from some Congolese.
AT LEAST 5 KILLED BY ANTI-UN PROTESTS IN EASTERN CONGO
“The Kenyan army came here as tourists. They roam the city every day and do absolutely nothing,” said protester Gloire Bagaya. “We as a population have come together to say no to this regional force.
Residents of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, protest on January 18, 2023 against the scheduled arrival of South Sudanese troops who will join Kenyan forces deployed to assist the Congolese army in its fight against M23 rebels. . Police fired tear gas at the protesters.
(AP Photo/Moises Sawasawa)
“(The South Sudanese) are also at war at home, but they say they want to bring peace to our country,” Bagaya added. “This is an international plot that wants to balkanize our country, and no one will divide our country.”
2 CONGO MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO ILLEGAL SHIPMENT OF IVORY, RHINO HORN AND PANGOLIN SCALES
M23 resurfaced in eastern Congo a year ago after a decade of inactivity. Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebel military group, which it denies.
As part of an agreement reached in Angola last year, the group said it would withdraw its men from some of the occupied territories by January 15. However, there are still areas under his control.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The fighting is exacerbating the dire humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo. Nearly 6 million people are internally displaced in the country, with more than 450,000 displaced in North Kivu province since fighting escalated in February.
