UN confirms 19 dead in the Congo, and Germany suspends aid talks
Kinshasa — The U.N. mission in Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed 19 deaths and 45 injuries from gunshots during protests on Tuesday against President Joseph Kabila for overstaying his mandate, the human rights director said on Wednesday. “We are very concerned by the excessive use of force by state agents, notably the (police), the Republican Guard, the military police and the National Agency of Intelligence,” Jose Maria Aranaz, head of the U.N. human rights office in Congo, told reporters in the capital Kinshasa. Earlier, sporadic gunfire was reported in Kinshasa, with a few residents venturing from their homes on Wednesday morning. But most streets were clear of traffic and public transport was extremely limited. Germany announced that it has indefinitely postponed talks on development assistance to the DRC, the German foreign office said on Wednesday. “From now on, the Congolese Government’s scope for action will be restricted,” the statement said. “The negotiations on d...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.