DR Congo requested the urgent meeting of the UN’s top rights body to discuss escalating fighting by Rwanda-backed armed group M23 in North and South Kivu provinces, and drew up a draft resolution that would set up the probe.
Last week, M23 fighters and Rwandan troops seized Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu -- a mineral-rich region in eastern DRC that has been blighted by war for over three decades.
“Today, the international community regrets not having intervened in 1994 to stop the (Rwandan) genocide,“ he told reporters in Geneva.
M23’s lightning offensive against Goma was a major escalation after more than three years of fighting.
Muyaya, the DRC’s communications minister, said the situation was “catastrophic” and urged countries to impose tougher sanctions on Rwanda and suspend economic cooperation.
The support of more than a third of the Human Rights Council’s 47 member states is required to convene a special session, and 29 backed the DRC’s call, along with 22 observer states.
He cited “abductions, massacres and summary executions of civilians”.
Rwandan ambassador James Ngango said: “Rwanda has always said that it will defend its security by all available means.”
The eastern DRC has deposits of coltan, a metallic ore that is vital in making phones and laptops, as well as gold and other minerals.
The draft resolution to be discussed Friday condemns rights violations in Kivu, and the “unlawful exploitation of natural resources”, and calls for strict measures to stop the plundering.
It demands that the fighters “immediately cease all hostile actions in and withdraw from the occupied areas”, and urges them to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need.
The mission should collect evidence of abuses for use in future court cases and try to identify those responsible, the draft text said.
The campaign group Human Rights Watch and more than 70 other rights organisations called on the council to set up the investigation.
Hence then, the article about un rights council mulls probe of abuses in east drc was published today ( ) and is available on Daily Sun ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( UN rights council mulls probe of abuses in east DRC )
Also on site :