African media express anger, concern over Congolese killing
A few reports in the African press in recent days highlight the anger against the attack on their nationals in India.
A few reports in the African press in recent days highlight the anger against the attack on their nationals in India.
“The latest attacks represent a setback for India, which is trying to make inroads into Africa. In July, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Mozambique and South Africa, as a follow-up to the India-Africa Forum Summit of October 2015,” said the Kenyan newspaper Daily Nation in a recent report. The article on May 26 was based on strong statements, made by some African envoys in anger, which said that they would have to stop sending students to India for studies. However, the external affairs ministry seemed to have doused the fire, at least for now.
A report in the Congolese daily Le Congolais, published in English and French, on the same day has angry residents talking about the killing of one of their countrymen in India.
“We found that our compatriots are stoned and killed like game in India. The past week, a young Congolese man was killed by Indians. That’s why we wanted to react… killing or beating one of them…so that this situation now ceases. Justice must be done and we’ll do it our way,” said a Congolese national. Two Indians were attacked in Congo on May 26 in what was seen as an instance of retaliation.
“The DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) believes that the government is unable to find quick solutions to this situation,” a local resident is quoted as explaining why there were attacks on Indians.
There was no overwhelming coverage in most African papers about the incident. For instance, in Nigeria it was mostly positive news in most papers, such as bilateral trade hitting $72 billion.