UN rights chief calls for international investigation into mass graves in DRC

Source: Xinhua| 2017-06-09 23:39:28|Editor: yan
Video PlayerClose

GENEVA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Friday called on the UN to establish an international investigation into the alleged human rights violations and abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the existence of 42 mass graves.

In a press statement on Friday, he said the crimes committed in DRC's Kasais area appear to be of such gravity that they must be of concern to the international community.

According to the UN information, since August of 2016, some 1.27 million people from the Kasais have been internally displaced by the violence.

The UN Human Rights Office said it has documented 42 mass graves.

According to information gathered by UN Human Rights teams, soldiers from the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) reportedly dug many of the graves after clashing with presumed elements of the Kamuina Nsapu militia over the past several months.

The flare-up in the Kasais occurred in August of 2016 when a customary chief was killed by the FARDC. The Kamuina Nsapu militia, named after the chief, sought to avenge his killing by targeting police and members of the army, state symbols and institutions.

The FARDC have reportedly reacted to the attacks by launching a blistering counter-attack, shooting dead suspected militia members or sympathizers.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011105521363540071