DR Congo: Rights chief warns crisis could worsen, without international action
- Posted on: 2025-02-07 12:00
KINSHASA, Feb 7 (Reuters) – The United Nations human rights chief warned on Tuesday that the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo could worsen without urgent international action, as fighting between government forces and rebels intensified in the east of the country.
Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement that the situation in eastern Congo was “deteriorating rapidly” and that civilians were bearing the brunt of the violence.
“I am deeply concerned about the escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which is having a devastating impact on civilians,” Bachelet said. “Without urgent international action, the crisis could worsen significantly.”
The fighting in eastern Congo has been intensifying in recent months, with government forces battling the M23 rebel group. The M23 is a Tutsi-led group that has been fighting the Congolese government since 2012.
The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and has led to a sharp increase in human rights abuses, including summary executions, arbitrary arrests, and sexual violence.
Bachelet said that the international community must take urgent action to stop the violence and protect civilians. She called for the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on those responsible for the violence and to send a peacekeeping force to the region.
“The international community cannot stand idly by while civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo continue to suffer,” Bachelet said. “Urgent action is needed to stop the violence and protect civilians.”
The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, a charge that Rwanda denies. The Rwandan government has called for an independent investigation into the allegations.
The UN Security Council is expected to discuss the situation in eastern Congo in the coming weeks.
DR Congo: Rights chief warns crisis could worsen, without international action
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