Indian establishments in Congo attacked in backlash

Indian shops and establishments in Congo’s capital Kinshasa were attacked and gunshots fired injuring two Indians, in apparent backlash against the killing
of a Congolese national here that had triggered outrage among African envoys.

Ministry of external affairs said Indian establishments were targeted on Monday and on Wednesday in the city’s commercial areas and Indian mission in Kinshasa has taken up the issue with Congo’s foreign ministry.

MEAs Vikas Swarup said a Note Verbale was issued to Congo’s ministry of foreign affairs with a copy to the ministry of interior and the police authorities to ensure safety of life and property of all Indians residing there.

“It has come to notice of our mission in Kinshasa that some Indian establishments and shops in the commercial areas were attacked on May 23 and May 25 as a reaction perhaps to the killing of the Congolese national in New Delhi last Friday.

“It has also been reported that there were some gun shots fired injuring a couple of Indians living in the area. Our ambassador took up the matter immediately with the Congolese foreign ministry,” he said.

He said as per latest reports, by end of Wednesday, things have come down with no further incident.

The attack on Indian establishment in Kinshasa came days after a Congolese national Masonda Ketada Oliver was killed here. Oliver was beaten to death last week in Vasant Kunj area of South Delhi following a brawl over hiring of an autorickshaw.

Envoys of African countries had expressed shock over Oliver’s killing following which India assured them of safety of African nationals.

The envoys had even sought postponement of the ICCR-hosted Africa Day event today but they decided to participate in it after Minister of State in MEA V K Singh met the African Heads of Missions (HoMs).

The envoys had expressed outrage over the recent killing and demanded steps against “racism and Afro-phobia”.