The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has appealed for more attention to be given to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as he visited a camp for displaced people in Goma. Thousands of Congolese have been forced to flee their homes due to a conflict between the Congolese army and M23 rebels.

Kinshasa

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, urged the global community to pay closer attention to the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Turk's call to action came during his visit to a displacement camp in Goma, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by thousands of Congolese citizens. These individuals have been forced from their homes due to the violence erupting between the Congolese army and the M23 rebels, a situation that has contributed to the mass displacement of over a million people.

In his remarks, Turk conveyed the profound impact of the crisis on the civilian population, which he witnessed first-hand. The eastern regions of Congo, he noted, are currently besieged by the M23 rebel group, which enjoys support from Rwanda. This group has not only taken control of significant areas but now also encircles the city of Goma. The resistance against M23's advance consists of the Congolese army, local militias, and regional troops, all entangled in a complex confrontation.

A particularly distressing aspect of the conflict, as noted by the High Commissioner, is the involvement of children. The recruitment of child soldiers and the exploitation of young individuals are among the most severe issues, exacerbated by the desperation brought about by socio-economic deterioration. Official figures from the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights identify child recruitment as the most paramount rights violation in the DRC for the year, with over 1,500 cases verified.

Furthermore, amidst this backdrop of human rights challenges, Turk highlighted the contentious issue of the death penalty. The Congolese government’s recent reimposition of capital punishment, a response to the catastrophic conditions in the eastern part of the country, has drawn criticism from the U.N., which staunchly opposes the death penalty in all its forms.



Concern about violence in eastern DR Congo

Eastern Congo continues to be plagued by brutal violence, with over a million people displaced, many of whom are barely surviving in squalid displacement camps. On Thursday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said during a visit to Congo that it broke his heart to see how extremely exhausted and traumatized the civilian population is. He's visiting Congo as swathes of the east are occupied by the M23 rebel group, which is backed by Rwanda. The rebels also surround the eastern city of Goma. Facing the M23 are a hodgepodge of local militias, the Congolese army and regional troops. Among the many rights issues connected to the conflict, High Commissioner Turk pointed to one in particular, the involvement of children, which has plagued Congo in the past. The use of child soldiers and recruitment of children is a huge concern. Actually, when I talked to people yesterday in Goma, they were telling me that how recruitment is happening and it's happening in very insidious ways. And also, let's not forget that the economic, socio-economic situation because of the violence, because of the conflict is so desperate that young people are an easy prey for those who want to take advantage of them. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, child recruitment was the most prevalent rights violation in 2023 in the DRC, with over 1,500 verified cases. During his visit, High Commissioner Turk also underlined that the UN opposes the death penalty in all its forms. The Congolese government has recently reintroduced capital punishment, in part due to the catastrophic situation in the east.

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