US worries over UN report of human rights violations, abuses in Congo

By Blessing Chinagorom 

The United States has shared the concerns expressed in the final report of the UN Group of Experts on Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and supports its continued investigation into perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses.

In a statement released by the State Department Spokesman, Mathew Miller on Tuesday, stating that this conflict has left millions exposed to human rights violations and violence, including displacement, deprivation, extrajudicial killings, and conflict-related sexual violence.  

Years of violence between factions vying for control in the Democratic Republic of Congo have internally displaced 5.7 million people, according to the United Nations. Since 1996, fighting in the region has led to about 6 million deaths.

It was reported that two prominent rebel factions in the region are the March 23 Movement, or M23 and the so called Allied Democratic Forces or ADF, neighboring Rwanda has been accused of supporting M23 which the government denies.

And the ADF is a militia group affiliated with the Islamic State and are blamed for the latest attack. They are just two of the more than 120 groups operating in the region, vying for interests, including control over the country’s rich reserves of metals and rare minerals.

The United State urged all armed groups to cease hostilities, lay down their weapons.We call on Rwanda to end support for M23 immediately and withdraw RDF troops and advanced weaponry from the DRC.  
“We call on the DRC to immediately cease collaboration of Congolese armed forces (FARDC) elements with FDLR, in violation of the orders of military leadership.  

“We also note the report’s evidence of attacks against the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO and reiterate that such actions are unacceptable”, it added.

The United States promised to continue support regional diplomatic efforts that promote de-escalation and create conditions for lasting peace in the DRC while urged all parties to the conflict to adhere to the humanitarian truce.  
“We call on Rwanda and the DRC to implement their commitments under the Luanda process, and call on all parties to respect human rights, adhere to applicable obligations under international humanitarian law, and hold accountable all actors for human rights violations and abuses in the conflict in eastern DRC”.

The UN Group of Experts report on the DRC highlights importance of the humanitarian truce committed to by the parties to the conflict and dire need for accountability for human rights abuses. All parties must redouble efforts at de-escalation and achieving a durable peace.

The UN Security Council’s group of experts on Monday also said some 3,000-4,000 Rwandan soldiers fought alongside M23 rebels in eastern DRC and that Kigali had “de facto control” of the group’s operations.

“Since the resurgence of the M23 crisis, Uganda has not prevented the presence of M23 and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) troops on its territory or passage through it,” said the UN report.