The UN Rights Council says human rights in DR Congo are in a downward spiral

Wednesday Oct 9, 2024 {HMC} Human rights experts warn that the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been problematic for decades, is once again on a downward spiral as armed clashes, attacks on schools and hospitals, sexual violence and other abuses escalate.

Kicking off a discussion on the DRC at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged the international community to pay more attention to the plight of Congolese citizens who are victims of a “volatile mix of escalating violence, regional and international interests, exploitative companies and a weak rule of law.”

He said the number of victims of human rights violations is growing, with armed groups fighting in the eastern provinces responsible for most of these violations, including “deadly attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals.”

He said sexual violence is spreading despite efforts to prevent and investigate cases.

“The armed groups capture people and subject women and girls to sexual slavery. Many of them were murdered after being raped. Of course, not all of these cases have been reported. This is horrible,” he said.

“Human rights violations committed by defense and security forces during their military operations against armed groups also remain a matter of concern,” he said, noting that hate speech and other incitements to discrimination and violence “are fueling conflict and increasing political tensions across the country.” .”

Türk appealed to influential countries to use their power to ensure a stop to the fighting, stating that “any role played by Rwanda in supporting the M23 in North Kivu, and by any other country supporting armed groups supports those operating in the DRC must end.”

Responding to Türk’s comments, DRC Human Rights Minister Chantal Shambu Mwavita said her government has made great progress in protecting human rights despite the challenges posed by the war in the east.

Referring to Rwanda, she pointed her finger at so-called “negative forces” that supported the armed groups from outside. She “called on the international community to strongly condemn these actions and impose targeted sanctions on Rwanda for its destabilizing role.”

Mwavita said the war in the eastern provinces is closely linked to the seizure and illegal exploitation of her country’s natural resources by Rwanda and other countries.

She also demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the territory of the DRC.

North Kivu and surrounding provinces in eastern DRC have been wracked by violence for decades as armed groups battle for control of the region’s rich natural resources.

Rwanda has denied supporting the M23 rebels, while Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe renewed that denial on Saturday. The minister, who attended a two-day “Francophonie” summit in Paris, accused his Congolese counterpart of refusing to sign “an agreed deal” to resolve the M23 rebel conflict in the DRC.

On Tuesday, Rwandan Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, James Ngango, also expressed concern over the escalation of abuses and human rights violations in eastern DRC, “particularly sexual and child violations in the region affected by armed conflict and conflicts between communities. ” he said.

He said Rwanda remains committed to dialogue and regional peace processes. He said: “No military solution can address the root causes of the conflict in eastern DRC.”

It is unclear whether the DRC’s demand for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces will be met, nor is it clear if and when MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping force, will withdraw from the country as requested by the government by Felix Tshisekedi.

The UN says the peacekeepers, who were supposed to leave by the end of the year, have apparently been given a reprieve. There are still several thousand soldiers in the provinces of North and South Kivu and Ituri.

Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary General in the DRC and head of MONUSCO, made little mention of the potential impact on the stability of the DRC once UN peacekeepers leave the country.

However, she painted a worrying picture of human rights in the DRC due to “the deteriorating security situation” in the eastern provinces due to attacks on civilians, “resulting in loss of life and mass displacement of peoples to Kinshasa and Kisangani.”

“In the quest for territorial gains, the M23 extended its hold on areas towards Lubero Kanyabayonga, which was captured in late June after heavy fighting. Hospitals and IDP locations were deliberately targeted by M23. Several civilians have fled their homes, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis,” she said.

She affirmed that MONUSCO “will continue to provide its support to the DRC… in strict accordance with the UN human rights due diligence policy, including support for the establishment of a framework for human rights observance.”

Keita added: “The return of peace to the DRC will come through combined military and non-military efforts to find lasting solutions, both nationally and regionally.”

Conflicts in the DRC have come at a high price. According to the United Nations, the country is facing two humanitarian crises: an internal displacement crisis and a food crisis. The report notes that 7.2 million people are currently internally displaced, and nearly 26 million are facing acute hunger.

SOURCE VOA