from JEAN KASSONGO in Kinshasa, DRC
KINSHASA, (CAJ News) – THERE is mystery after a drone said to be operated by the United Nations (UN) crashed and was found loaded with gold and arms in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
This has raised allegations of looting of local resources by the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), which has been deployed in the country since 1999 in order to help stabilise the country after years of civil war.
The crash occurred in the eastern part of North Kivu where a number of armed groups fought for the control of mineral resources.
None of the rebel groups claimed responsibility for the crash.
Locals thronged the crash site.
“This drone confirms our long time suspicion that these wars being fought in our land are a distraction to loot our resources,” a man said.
“We no longer want the UN peace mission because they work with forces with intention to loot but at the same time intensifying wars,” he added.
Some Congolese accused the UN mission of being involved in DRC’s mineral looting under the pretext of bringing peace to the country.
The UN had not commented on the developments.
– CAJ News