GOMA: Artillery fire blamed on the DR Congo army has killed a child and wounded a pregnant woman in a rebel-held town.
MONUSCO, the UN mission in the troubled nation, indicated late Monday that M23 rebels had prevented locals from fleeing to safer areas and were effectively using them as “human shields” against army attack on the eastern town of Mweso.
MONUSCO said that this M23 tactic reportedly aims to hold civilians as human shields in anticipation of any military attacks.
AFP reported that three artillery shells fell mid-afternoon on Monday on Mweso, about 60 kilometers north of Goma, capital of the restive North-Kivu.
Local people said the shells were fired from a nearby military base.
A staff member at the Mweso hospital confirmed one child had been killed in the attack and that a pregnant woman had been injured in the thigh.
No comments from army
Local people reported the town was calm on Tuesday while the did not comment on the incident.
One person was wounded in a similar attack at Sake, outside Goma, on 12 January.
Two North Kivu territories, Masisi and Rutshuru and have been mired in unrest since late 2021 as M23 rebels, backed by Rwandan forces, have fought Congolese troops, as well assorted armed groups.
