Two people have been killed and several injured after UN peacekeepers returning from leave in Uganda opened fire to force their way through a border into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bintou Keita, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission, has described the troops’ actions as unspeakable and irresponsible.
She said arrests had been made and an investigation opened.
A video shared on social media shows troops in a UN convoy trying to cross the border from Uganda into eastern DR Congo – and an argument can be heard.
Then suddenly there are loud bursts of gunfire from the convoy and people scatter in all directions. The UN troops drive into DR Congo still shooting.
Over the last week there have been violent protests in DR Congo against the UN’s Monusco mission, which many feel has failed to protect people from armed attacks in which 20 people died.
This incident is likely to fuel anger towards the UN mission.
