Congolese Army Killed 62 Civilians in DR Congo

By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo – Due to accusations that the Congolese army killed 62 civilians, the United Nations (UN) has withdrawn its support to the soldiers operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“[C]ivilians have been clearly targeted in attacks by certain elements of the FARDC (the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo),” said UN peacekeeping chief Alain Leroy.

Human Rights activists have persistently said that ethnic Hutus were being killed by the Congolese army.  They have also accused the UN of doing little to stop the killings.

Leroy stated that the peacekeeping mission (Monuc) will “immediately suspend” its logistical and operational support to the army units who are implicated in the killings.

Source say that at least 62 civilians, including women and children, were killed between May and September 2009 in the Nord-Kivu province.

There is currently a UN joint inquiry in the killings being carried out with the Congolese army.  The UN is awaiting the results of the inquiry before any further action.

Human Rights groups have estimated that hundreds of civilians have been killed and thousands of women have been raped by rebels and soldiers since DR Congo and Rwanda launched the joint offensive in January.

The Hutu rebel group has been at the heart of the years of unrest in the region.  They have participated in the massacres of more than 500,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.  The UN has been providing logistical assistance to the FARDC since March in their efforts to tackle Rwandan Hutu rebels.

For more information, please see:

AFP – UN Suspends Support for DR Congo Army Over Killings – 2 November 2009

AP – UN: Congolese Army Killed 62 Civilians in E. Congo – 2 November 2009

BBC – UN Drops Congo Army Over Killings – 2 November 2009

Xinhua – DR Congo in Better Situation But Still in Aftermath of Insecurity – 2 November 2009

Reuters –  Lack of U.N. Air Power Endangers Congo Civilians – 1 November 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive