Human rights violations and abuses occur daily in DRC, says UN

The security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to be a major source of concern, with violence in the Kasai provinces, in the western part of the vast country, reaching “disturbing” levels, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) says.

Presenting the latest report of the secretary-general on the situation in the DRC, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who recently visited the country, urged the Council on Tuesday to support the government and the people to preserve the gains of the past 17 years.

“The current political impasse, the rising insecurity, and the worsening human rights and humanitarian situation in the DRC require a concerted response from regional and international partners,” Lacroix said.

“This response must aim to help to create the conditions for a successful transition and the holding of free, fair and inclusive elections, in accordance with the constitution,” he stressed, with a nod to a political agreement signed last year that specified that elections would be held by the end of this year.

The agreement – facilitated by Conférence Episcopale Nationale du Congo (CENCO) mediators, and reached in DRC’s capital, Kinshasa, on December 31,  2016 – allowed President Joseph Kabila to stay in power beyond the end of his term.

In the statement, Lacroix said implementation of the Agreement “remains largely inadequate”.

“At a time when the DRC is at the mid-point of its transition, it is more necessary than ever for national political actors and international partners, including the members of the Council, to remobilise the political agreement of December 31, 2016,” the senior UN official stressed.

Supporting the implementation of the agreement – in addition to paving the way for elections and protecting civilians – remains a key priority of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, known as MONUSCO, Lacroix said.

He underscored his commitment “to ensuring that MONUSCO delivers on its core mandated objectives as efficiently and effectively as possible” while responding to the changing situation on the ground.

MONUSCO is currently undergoing a strategic review that will likely result shifts in its structure and mandate, based on options presented to the Security Council by September 30.

Amid the political impasse, the focus in the country faces rising insecurity, with particular concern over violence in the Kasai provinces, and a recent increase in inter-ethnic violence there.

“Disturbing reports of human rights violations and abuses continue to be received on a daily basis,” Lacroix said.

Dozens of mass graves have been reported so far, and the national investigation efforts are “slow”, he said, adding that “MONUSCO has also received disturbing reports of summary executions and rapes including of civilians by the security forces.”

Between May and June, the number of displaced persons in the DRC increased by 26 per cent to 1.3 million, according to UN figures.

Noting that he visited the country last month, Lacroix said he had stressed the need to prioritise political means to address the situation in the Kasais and emphasised the urgency of ensuring accountability.

He also stressed UN’s continued focus on ensuring that those responsible for the killing of UN human rights colleagues, Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan, are brought to justice.

Despite the insecurity, MONUSCO has been able to support pockets of stability, such as in the town of Tshimbulu, where some schools and churches have reopened.

“Through a combination of human rights monitoring and political outreach, supported by a light but increasing military presence, the Mission is helping to bring back some measure of stability wherever it can,” Lacroix said.