The suppression of demonstrations against the United Nations has led to a death toll exceeding thirty-six people, and a total of 160 individuals have been apprehended.

According to local sources, a series of confrontations in the Democratic Republic of Congo between security forces and adherents of a religious sect who are expressing their opposition to the presence of Western organisations in the nation has led to numerous fatalities.

Local sources stated that, on Thursday, August 31, 2023, the Congolese military forcefully dispersed a demonstration in the urban center of Goma. Protesters were expressing their discontent against the United Nations peacekeeping mission and other international entities following the dissemination of a video that was circulating on social media, depicting an assault on a Police officer.

According to Anne-Sylvie Linder, the Head of the International Red Cross branch in Goma, a significant number of patients with severe stab and gunshot injuries were admitted to the clinic following the protest while some died on arrival.

In a statement released by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) UN peacekeeping operation in eastern Congo, the organization offered its sympathies and stated that it was still concerned about the violence threats.

MONUSCO urged the Congolese authorities to conduct a prompt and independent investigation and called upon them to treat those detained humanely and to respect their rights.

According to UN, there were credible reports of more than 50 fatalities after the military allegedly obstructed protestors who had congregated in a church, before the demonstration.