DAKAR (Reuters) - The United Nations condemned an “unlawful and unjustified” crackdown by Congolese security forces on anti-government protests that killed at least 47 people between Jan. 2017 and Jan. 2018, a report said on Monday. Democratic Republic of Congo is facing growing public unrest since President Joseph Kabila refused to step down after his mandate expired at the end of December 2016, and after repeated delays to an election meant to replace him. Security forces shot dead at least six people and wounded dozens others during an anti-Kabila protest organized by the Catholic church in January this year. The UN in a report said that the Congolese authorities used lethal force on protesters and attempted to cover up rights abuses by hiding dead bodies after protests calling for President Joseph Kabila to arrange long delayed elections. Another two people were killed by security forces during church-led demonstrations against the government last month.
The United Nations reports that from January 2017 to January 2018 a total of 47 people were killed in protests against Congolese President Joseph Kabila.