Escalating Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo: UN Calls for Action
Thousands Killed Amid Rising Conflict
Since January 26, nearly 3,000 people have been killed and 2,880 injured in attacks carried out by the M23 rebel group and their allies. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reported that heavy weaponry has been used in civilian areas, with intense clashes between M23 and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) along with their allies.
Amid ongoing atrocities in North Kivu and South Kivu, UN member states are considering launching a fact-finding mission to investigate severe human rights violations in the region.
The situation in this resource-rich part of the country has been highly unstable for decades due to the presence of numerous armed groups. The conflict escalated dramatically in late January when the predominantly Tutsi-led M23 took control of key areas in North Kivu, including positions near Goma, before advancing toward South Kivu and Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern DRC.
Accusations Against Rwanda
A draft resolution presented at the Special Session—the 37th such meeting since the UN Human Rights Council was established in 2006—condemned Rwanda’s alleged military support for M23. It called on both Rwanda and M23 to halt their operations and immediately allow humanitarian aid into affected areas.
Hospitals Targeted in Attacks
Speaking at the emergency session, Mr. Türk highlighted the bombing of two hospitals in Goma on January 27, resulting in multiple civilian casualties, including women and children.
On the same day, a violent mass prison break at Muzenze Prison in Goma led to reports of at least 165 female inmates being raped. Most of these women were subsequently killed in a fire under suspicious circumstances, according to authorities.
“I am horrified by the scale of sexual violence, which has long been a horrific aspect of this conflict,” Türk stated, warning that such atrocities are likely to worsen. UN teams are currently verifying reports of rape, mass sexual violence, and sexual slavery occurring within the conflict zones of eastern DRC.
MONUSCO Warns of Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
Bintou Keita, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in DRC and head of the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO), described the situation in Goma as “catastrophic.” She noted that dead bodies remain unburied in the streets of the city, now under M23 control.
“Youth are being forcibly recruited, and human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society leaders are at significant risk,” she warned. MONUSCO continues to receive requests for protection from individuals in danger, including judicial authorities facing threats from M23 fighters.
Keita also raised concerns over worsening health conditions due to the conflict. She warned of the resurging threat of cholera, the potential spread of mpox, disruptions to children’s education, and increasing incidents of gender-based violence.
Medical personnel in the region are struggling with power outages and fuel shortages, affecting essential services such as morgues. Keita urged the international community to push for immediate humanitarian aid access to Goma.
DRC and Rwanda Exchange Accusations
In response to the crisis, DRC’s Minister of Communications and Media, Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, accused Rwanda of providing continued logistical, military, and financial support to armed groups operating in DRC. He alleged that Rwanda has fueled violence in eastern DRC for over three decades, primarily to exploit its rich mineral resources.
However, Rwanda’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, James Ngango, denied the accusations and warned that Rwanda itself is under imminent threat. He claimed that a “Kinshasa-backed coalition” had gathered significant military weaponry near Rwanda’s border, including rockets, kamikaze drones, and heavy artillery aimed directly at Rwandan territory.
Calls for International Action
Mr. Türk emphasized the global responsibility to address the ongoing conflict, urging a deeper understanding of its political and economic roots.
“The people of eastern DRC are suffering immensely, while many of the products we use—such as mobile phones—are made with minerals mined from this region. This conflict implicates all of us,” he said.
In response to the crisis, the UN Human Rights Council voted to establish a fact-finding mission, led by the UN human rights office (OHCHR), to investigate violations in the region. A formal commission of inquiry will follow once commissioners are appointed, OHCHR confirmed at the conclusion of the Special Session.
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