Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Burundi Times
Published on 2024-04-03 20:29:55
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, addressed the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council revealing disturbing statistics about the M23 rebel group’s actions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to Türk, the M23 rebel group summarily executed 156 individuals, sexually abused 30 women and 12 children, and abducted 127 civilians, including forcibly recruiting them for combat. These numbers, though alarming, are believed to only scratch the surface of the atrocities committed by the M23 group.
Additionally, the conflict in the eastern DRC has led to the displacement of over 2.5 million people in North Kivu between February 2022 and January 2024. The United Nations has described the situation as catastrophic, with 2,110 documented human rights violations and abuses reported between October 2023 and March 2024. The majority of these violations, 59%, were attributed to armed groups and included acts such as summary executions and conflict-related sexual violence, with a significant portion occurring in North Kivu province.
While commending the DRC’s progress in combating impunity by bringing 599 perpetrators to justice for human rights violations and abuses through military courts, Türk emphasized the importance of continued efforts in this regard. The UN agency highlighted the multifaceted challenges contributing to the insecurity in the DRC, including corruption, competition for natural resources, and violent land disputes. Türk also expressed concerns about the regional escalation of conflict and violence in the DRC, exacerbated by the involvement of various regional actors.
The conflict in the DRC has led to the deployment of SADC forces following the withdrawal of East African forces, as armed conflict between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army intensifies and spreads to new territories. As a result, hundreds of thousands have fled to cities like Goma and further north in South Kivu province, seeking safety from the escalating violence.
The situation in the DRC is dire, with human rights violations and abuses rampant, displacing millions of individuals and causing immense suffering. The international community, led by the UN, is closely monitoring the situation and urging for swift action to address the root causes of the conflict and ensure accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations. The need for humanitarian aid and support for the affected populations in the region remains critical as efforts continue to stabilize the situation and bring about lasting peace.
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