In a grave condemnation, the U.N. human rights chief, Volker Türk, has charged Rwanda-backed rebels, known as M23, with egregious acts in eastern Congo, including the killing of children and assaults on healthcare facilities and humanitarian aid hubs. Following the rebels’ swift capture of Bukavu, a city brimming with 1.3 million residents, Türk disclosed, “We have confirmed cases of summary execution of children by M23… We are also aware that children were in possession of weapons.”
The horrifying reality of child recruitment emerges from reports by U.N. agencies, which implicated both the Congolese government and M23 in these atrocities. Amidst escalating violence, the United Nations Human Rights Council has launched inquiries into the rampant abuses perpetrated since January, including rapes and killings that resemble summary executions, further alarming the global community.
M23’s advance follows their prior conquest of Goma, which resulted in a staggering death toll of at least 3,000 and left thousands more displaced amidst chaos. The group, which is one of over a hundred armed factions vying for the region’s vast mineral wealth, enjoys support from around 4,000 Rwandan troops, stirring international concern and complicating the already fraught situation.
Rwanda accuses the Congolese government of recruiting genocidal Hutu fighters, while M23 asserts its mission is to defend Tutsis and Rwandan-origin Congolese from persecution and to revitalize Congo’s governance. Unlike their brief hold on Goma in 2012, analysts suggest this time the rebels pursue legitimate political power, taking advantage of the years of turmoil that have displaced over six million people — a staggering humanitarian disaster unmatched globally.
The U.N. human rights chief, Volker Türk, has accused M23 rebels of killing and recruiting children in eastern Congo. Following their capture of Bukavu, Türk reported children being armed and executed. The conflict, exacerbated by Rwandan troop support, has sparked an investigation into atrocities committed this year, adding to the region’s extensive humanitarian crisis with over six million displaced.
The U.N. has raised alarms about the actions of M23 rebels, including child killings and recruitment, as they expand their control in eastern Congo. The harrowing conflict stirred by their violent advance highlights not only the humanitarian crisis but also the geopolitical tensions with neighbouring Rwanda. With the U.N. now investigating these grave allegations, urgent calls for accountability resonate amidst the suffering population, underscoring a plea for immediate action in a region plagued by violence and instability.
Original Source: www.newsday.com
