Violence in Eastern DRC Claims Lives of Romanian "Mercenary," Congolese Soldiers, and Injures U.N. Peacekeeper

In Summary

• A Romanian "mercenary" and two Congolese soldiers killed, and a U.N. peacekeeper injured in separate incidents.
• Private military contractor killed and three others wounded by a missile strike near Goma.
• Two soldiers killed in Butembo while supplying troops fighting ADF rebels.
• U.N. convoy attacked near Butembo, resulting in one peacekeeper injured.
• Pope Francis calls for protection of civilians amid escalating violence.

DETAILS

GOMA, DRC — A Romanian "mercenary" and two Congolese soldiers were killed, and a U.N. peacekeeper was wounded in three separate incidents in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, several sources reported Sunday.

A security official in the east of the country, speaking anonymously to AFP, said a private military contractor was killed and three others wounded Saturday by a missile strike on a Congolese army base about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of Goma. The origin of the strike was not confirmed.

The capital of North Kivu has been surrounded to the north and west by the Rwandan army and M23 rebels for several months. Fighting regularly occurs on the outskirts of the city between the Congolese army and the rebels, who are backed by Kigali and continue to extend their hold in the east of the country.

The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Sunday that the deceased and two injured individuals were Romanian nationals, while the fourth injured person was of another nationality. Several Romanian television channels, including the state-owned TVR Info, described the dead fighter as a "Romanian mercenary" contracted by the Congolese army.

Approximately 200 kilometers north of Goma, in Butembo, at least two soldiers were killed in an ambush, local administrator Colonel Alain Kiwewa told AFP. He stated that an investigation had been opened, though the identity of the assailants was not yet known. The slain soldiers had been supplying others fighting against the ADF rebels.

Since the start of the month, around 150 people have been killed in attacks attributed to the ADF, which originated in neighboring Uganda and whose members pledge allegiance to the Islamic State Group.

Additionally, around Butembo, a MONUSCO (U.N. mission in the DRC) convoy was attacked by unidentified armed men Saturday evening as it returned from a mission. One peacekeeper was shot in the leg during the attack.

Vivian van de Perre, second-in-command of the U.N. mission, condemned "the violence perpetrated against peacekeepers" and reiterated the need for "unhindered access for the protection of civilians."

On Sunday, Pope Francis deplored the surge in violence in eastern DRC and appealed to national authorities and international communities to "safeguard the lives of civilians."