UN chief visits region hit by Ebola

BENI (AP):

The United Nations (UN) secretar general has visited Congo’s eastern city of Beni, pledging solidarity as the region faces both extremist violence and an Ebola outbreak that has killed nearly 2,000 people.

UN chief Antonio Guterres said Sunday the UN is on the side of the Congolese people and pledged UN peacekeeping forces’ support in the fight against extremism that he says “is threatening not only Congo, but Africa and the world”.

He is on a three-day trip to Congo. He will meet with Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi.

Some Beni residents say they do not trust UN peacekeepers and that they did little when they were being attacked by rebels.

Others in Beni said a visit from the head of the UN could help.