The UN has condemned the recent increase in violence perpetrated by the M23 and other groups in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a month. According to his indications, around 430 civilians have been killed since July 9.
On Wednesday in Geneva, the High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said it was “dismayed” by the M23 attacks which made more than 310 victims in four villages in North Kivu. These, which took place despite the recent cease-fire signed in Qatar, are among the deadliest since the return of the M23, supported by Rwanda, three years ago.
Most of the victims were farmers who camped in their fields. “All attacks on civilians must stop immediately and officials must be prosecuted,” said the High Commissioner.
Among the other groups, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have killed nearly 120 people in several incidents in Ituri, including 40 Christians during a mass and 70 civilians from a village. Three civilians were killed by CODECO, also in Ituri. For their part, the members of the Raia Mutomboki/Wazalendo group violated eight women in late July in South Kivu.
Conform to the ceasefire
The High Commissioner reiterates his appeal to honor human rights and international humanitarian law (DIH). He also asked the Congolese authorities and the M23 to comply with the ceasefire signed three weeks ago in Qatar, a few weeks after a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda. The advances remain limited, also deplores the High Commissioner.
In June, he revealed the preliminary indications for the mission of establishing the facts of which his office was mandated on violence in January and February when Goma took by the M23. She said that this group has perpetrated possible war crimes. But it also questions the Congolese army and militias that are close to it. Violence has made thousands of victims. One million people in total were moved.
This article was published automatically. Source: ATS