GENEVA
The UN human rights chief on Friday sounded the alarm over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, calling for urgent international intervention.
Speaking at a special session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned the rising violence in eastern Congo, particularly North and South Kivu, where the M23 armed group, backed by the Rwandan Defense Forces, has intensified its offensive.
He reported that since Jan. 26, nearly 3,000 people have been killed and 2,880 injured, though the real toll may be even higher. The conflict has forced over 500,000 people to flee their homes, he said, adding to an already staggering 6.4 million internally displaced persons.
"Goma airport, which is so important for humanitarian aid, has been rendered inoperable by the M23 and Rwandan forces. Warehouses belonging to MONUSCO (UN mission) and humanitarian organizations have been looted," he said, and warned: "The risk of violence escalating throughout the sub-region has never been higher."
"All those with influence over the parties involved, be they states or non-state actors, must redouble their efforts to avert a conflagration and to support peace processes," he urged.
Turk dismissed military solutions, urging all parties to resume diplomatic negotiations under the Luanda and Nairobi processes. He called for an independent investigation into human rights violations and welcomed the International Criminal Court’s appeal for submissions on the crisis.
"The military path is not the answer to the political, social, and economic challenges which are at the root of this conflict, including the illegal exploitation of natural resources," he said.
The UN rights chief also said he is "horrified" by the spread of sexual violence, "which has been an appalling feature of this conflict for a long time."
This is "likely to worsen" in the current circumstances, he said. Citing judicial authorities, he said, during the prison break from Muzenze Prison in Goma on Jan. 27, at least 165 female prisoners were raped. Most were subsequently killed in a fire, the circumstances of which remain unclear.
"My team is also currently verifying multiple allegations of rape, gang rape and sexual slavery, throughout the conflict zones," he added.
"The Congolese people have been suffering terribly for decades," he said. "How many more innocent lives must be lost before sufficient political will is galvanized?"
He called on global actors to act urgently to put an end to the tragic situation, ensure accountability, and address root causes such as corruption, press restrictions, and hate speech.
Global community has 'moral, legal obligation' to act decisively
Surya Deva, chair of the human rights commissioner’s Coordination Committee of Special Procedures, also highlighted the devastating impact of the ongoing hostilities, particularly in North and South Kivu, following renewed offensives by M23 rebels.
Deva condemned widespread violence, forced displacement, and severe human rights abuses, including sexual and gender-based violence, child trafficking, and summary executions.
"The scale and severity of the violence have reached unprecedented levels," he said, noting that over 700,000 people have been displaced in recent weeks, adding to the already staggering 6.7 million internally displaced persons in the country.
He also expressed deep concern over the indiscriminate bombardment of civilian areas and forced returns of displaced individuals without safety guarantees.
Deva called on all parties to the conflict to adhere to international law, cease attacks on civilians, and allow unimpeded humanitarian access. He also urged Rwanda to halt its support for M23 and withdraw from Congolese territory.
"The international community has a moral and legal obligation to act decisively," he stressed, appealing for increased humanitarian funding, diplomatic efforts for peace, and independent investigations into human rights violations.
Ethnically motivated attacks remain 'serious concern'
Bintou Keita, the secretary-general’s envoy in Congo and chief of MONUSCO, sounded the alarm over ethnic violence, forced recruitment, and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the country’s east.
"In a region with a sensitive history, ethnically motivated attacks remain a serious concern. UNJHRO (United Nations Joint Human Rights Office) documented a case of allegedly ethnically motivated lynching in an internally displaced persons site, as well as physical and verbal violence against journalists in Goma," Keita said.
"In Kalehe, South Kivu, UNJHRO has received reports of physical attacks, abduction and extortion of civilians linked to the perceived ethnicity of the victims."
She called for unity and social cohesion and encouraged passage of a law against tribalism, racism, and xenophobia.
Keita also warned the UN Security Council of increasing attacks against youth, human rights defenders, and journalists, many seeking protection from armed group M23. She urged an end to reprisals and called for unity amid growing ethnically motivated violence, including lynchings, abductions, and extortion in South Kivu.
"The situation in Goma is catastrophic," she said, describing decomposing bodies, disease risk, and collapsing medical services due to power and fuel shortages. She urged swift humanitarian aid and the reopening of Goma’s airport to facilitate relief efforts.
She also criticized the Congolese government’s social media restrictions, calling them a "serious infringement" on information rights. She demanded their immediate reversal and an end to GPS jamming, which hinders aid delivery.
Congo urges adoption of resolution seeking accountability
Patrick Muyaya, a Congolese government spokesperson, said his country remains fully committed to efforts for peace and stability.
"We reaffirm our willingness to work constructively with all regional and international actors. But it is imperative that the international community firmly support our efforts to end this protection crisis and the suffering of our people in the eastern part of our country," Muyaya said.
Reiterating Congo's call for neighboring Rwanda to take "full responsibility" in this situation, he said: "Adoption by consensus of the (fact-finding) resolution would be a sign of solidarity for the millions of Congolese who are living today under Rwandan occupation."
The resolution put forward to the UN Human Rights Council by Congo requests the establishment of an independent fact-finding mission to investigate and document all violations and abuses of human rights in eastern Congo.
James Ngango, Rwanda’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, pointed to a two-day joint African summit that kicked off today and said: "We should give a chance to this important regional initiative to bear fruit before preempting its outcome and attempting to feed the ongoing discussions in other relevant UN bodies."
