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A rebel movement in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has apologised for the forcible entry, on Monday, by its officers into UN premises at the inland port of Kisangani and their assault on two civilian security guards at the facility, a UN official has said.
"They promised to send an investigation team to Kisangani," Matnodje Mounoubai, an information officer with the UN Mission in the DRC (known by its French acronym MONUC), told IRIN on Wednesday.
He said the commander of the 7th brigade of the forces of the rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma), Laurent Mihigo Kunda, entered the premises, comprising warehouses and offices, without the permission of the Moroccan guard the gate. Then, Kunda seized the civilian security officers - a Congolese and an Ivorian - who challenged him, took them away and beat them, Mounoubai said.
"This was the first incident of this kind," Mounoubai added.
Later that day, another RCD-Goma officer - known as "Major Frank" - also forced his way into the UN compound and verbally threatened staff before leaving, Mounoubai said.
The incidents prompted the UN Deputy Special Representative in the DRC, Lena Sundh, to complain to the RCD-Goma leadership in the eastern town of Goma, thereby evoking an apology. Mounoubai said he did not know the motive prompting the actions of the RCD-Goma officers in Kisangani.
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