Voicing concern over the lack of progress on the part of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to undertake credible investigations into widespread allegations of rights violations and abuses in the Kasai Central and Kasai Oriental provinces, the top United Nations human rights official on Friday called for the setting up of an international investigation mechanism to look into the situation.
“The crimes committed in the Kasais appear to be of such gravity that they must be of concern to the international community as a whole, and in particular the Human Rights Council,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, urged the Council on Friday.
“We have an obligation to the victims and a duty to send a message to the perpetrators of these crimes that we are watching and that the international community is throwing its weight behind ensuring that the endemic impunity in the DRC is brought to an end.”
According to a news release issued by the High Commissioner’s Office (OHCHR), since August last year, some 1.3 million people from the two provinces have been displaced within the country and about 30,000 forced to flee to neighbouring Angola.
The release raised particular alarm over the presence of at least 42 mass graves – documented by OHCHR – and reports that many of these were dug by Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) after clashes with presumed elements of the Kamuina Nsapu militia over the past several months.
The actual number of the graves are feared to be higher.
Photo credit: UN
Source PANA
