In the Democratic Republic of Congo, two high-ranking military officials have been apprehended on suspicion of issuing orders to employ deadly force during a banned protest. The incident unfolded when a demonstration protesting the presence of international peacekeepers took place last Wednesday, resulting in the tragic loss of 43 lives and leaving 56 others injured.
The demonstrators, belonging to a religious sect, were advocating for the withdrawal of UN and East African Community peacekeeping forces from the region.
The arrested officers have been identified as Mike Mikombe, who serves as the head of the Republican Guard in Goma, and Donat Bawili, the leader of the military contingent stationed in the city, as confirmed by Interior Minister Peter Kazadi.
The specific charges that will be brought against them remain unclear at this point.
Minister Kazadi has assured that the investigations into these regrettable deaths, which have sparked both national and international condemnation, will be conducted with utmost transparency.
