Rwanda: US condemns brutal killings of Burundi nationals in Eastern DR Congo

21 Septembre 2017

KIGALI, Rwanda, September 21 (Infosplusgabon) - The U.S. government has said it was dismayed by the "violence and death" of more than 30 Burundian nationals and a Congolese soldier in Kamanyola, in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), insisting that perpetrators must be held accountable, in a statement made available Thursday to Infosplusgabon in Kigali.

The State Department, through the US Embassy in Kigali, urges the Government of the DRC to protect those civilians affected by violence from further attacks.

This reaction by the US government comes few days after Congolese forces allegedly shot and killed 34 Burundian refugees in an area near Burundi's border.

Reports said that the killings occurred after some Burundian refugees went to the bureau of intelligence in Kamanyola to inquire about four detained refugees.

Following the fresh violence in Eastern DRC, the US government also called upon the Government to work with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UN peacekeepers to ease tensions between Burundi refugees and their host population.

In the meanwhile, the DRC government has said it is opening an investigation to establish the facts and true identity of the "supposed refugees".

Reacting to these allegations, the Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende said authorities in Kinshasa [still] do not yet understand how the people who are being called refugees were also shooting at Congolese soldiers"

Latest reports by the UN refugee agency indicate that a total of 44,000 refugees from Burundi are currently sheltering in neighboring DR Congo.

The prolonged political crisis in Burundi has worsened the humanitarian situation in the country and prompted more and more Burundian people to flee into neighbouring countries for safety and security.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/BVN/GABON 2017

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