By Ryan Aliman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo – The United Nations announced that it will suspend its support to two battalions of the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) which reportedly have been involved in several human rights violations including mass rapes.

For the past three months, the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) has been investigating Minova, North Kivu, and neighboring towns. The mission’s report reveals that two units of the FARDC engaged in mass rapes, among other human rights violations. It found out that at least 126 women were raped in Minova after Congolese army soldiers fled to the town to avoid M23 rebels who seized the nearby province of Goma.

“Many rapes were committed. We have investigated, we have identified a number of cases and we demand that the Congolese authorities take action legally against those people,” a UN official told the press last week. According to him, the UN has demanded the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to prosecute the soldiers involved in these crimes. Otherwise, the official added, the DRC army will lose the support of U.N. peacekeepers.

“Since nothing sufficient has happened at this stage we have already put two units of the armed forces of Congo on notice that if they do not act promptly we shall cease supporting them,” he said. “They have to shape up.”

So far, MONUSCO has sent the Congolese Armed Forces Chief of Staff a second and final injunction to initiate the formal suspension of support to these two units. MONUSCO has not yet received a response.

“MONUSCO is continuing to advocate with Congolese authorities at the highest level to ensure that the alleged perpetrators, including FARDC commanders, be brought to justice and held accountable,” said UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky. “The Mission will maintain, together with other partners, its support to Congolese judicial authorities to pursue their investigations and will offer its support for any trial to be held,” he added.

MONUSCO was mandated by the UN to protect civilians and supports operations by the Congolese army. As of today, there are more than 17,000 peacekeepers deployed in Congo.

Reports say that the UN peacekeepers have been “stretched thin” by the M23 rebellion. This has led the UN Security council to consider creating a special intervention force that aims to “search and destroy” M23 rebels, as well as other insurgents in the country.

M23 rebels took over the eastern part of the DRC last year, accusing the government of failing to honor a 2009 peace deal.

 

For further information, please see:

UN News Centre – UN calls for suspension of DR Congo military units involved in mass rapes – 8 March 2013

UN Radio – UN mission in DR Congo to suspend support to two battalions – 8 March 2013

UPI – U.N.: Congo soldiers perpetrated mass rape – 8 March 2013

790 KGMI – U.N. threatens to stop working with Congo army units accused of rape – 7 March 2013