By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The M23 has committed “summary executions” of children in Bukavu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations has accused the Rwanda-backed rebel group.
The situation in eastern DRC was “deteriorating sharply, resulting in serious human rights violations and abuses,” the UN rights office warned on Tuesday.
“Our office has confirmed cases of summary execution of children by M23 after they entered the city of Bukavu last week,” rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.
“We are also aware that children were in possession of weapons,” she said, calling on “Rwanda and M23 to ensure that human rights and international humanitarian law are respected.”
M23 fighters had, after seizing Goma last month, advanced to the capital of North Kivu, entering the outskirts of its capital, Bukavu, on Friday before seizing it on Sunday.
The UN rights office spokeswoman said the office had also documented cases of “ill-treatment, conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, child and forced recruitment, intimidation, and death threats.”
She also pointed to the situation following prison breaks from South Kivu’s Kabare and Bukavu central jails on 14 February.
“We have received protection requests from victims and witnesses (who) fear retaliation from escapees, given their active participation in the trials against some of these prisoners convicted of grave human rights violations and abuses, some of which amount to international crimes,” she said.
Shamdasani also voiced concerns for “the safety of lawyers and other judicial staff” and said the rights office had received “reports that journalists, human rights defenders, and members of civil society organisations have been threatened and forced to leave the area.”
“Others are still stuck in Bukavu and Goma and have expressed fear for their safety due to their active engagement in human rights and their denunciation of violations and abuses committed by Rwanda and M23 in various territories of eastern DRC,” she said.
