29 08 12 UN alarmed over killings in Masisi territory in DR Congo

“The deterioration of the overall security situation in North Kivu following the M23 mutiny and related ruthless
attacks against civilians is extremely alarming,” said SRSG Meece.
Through four missions to the remote affected area and dozens of interviews with victims and witnesses, the UN
Joint Human Rights Office in DRC (UNJHRO) has documented since May more than 45 attacks on some 30
villages and towns in the Ufamandu I and II areas in Masisi territory. Some of the attacks have been carried out by
the armed group Raïa Mutomboki and others by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), at
times in coalition with the armed group Nyatura. This has resulted in serious human rights violations including
civilian massacres and the destruction and looting of homes and property, as well as the mass displacement of
thousands of civilians.
“Allegations of hundreds of killings are still being verified,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Navi Pillay. “However, the preliminary findings suggest that a significant number of people – most of them
women and children – were slaughtered. The sheer viciousness of these murders is beyond comprehension. In
some cases, the attacks against civilians may constitute crimes against humanity.”
The attacks on villages by Raïa Mutomboki and FDLR occur in the context of an increase in security vacuums
exacerbated by army desertions in April, the subsequent creation of the M23 armed group and the redeployment of
Congolese Army (FARDC) units to contain it. Many armed groups have also taken advantage of this situation to
expand their own area of influence, often carrying out brutal attacks against civilians in the process.
Proclaiming to protect local populations against the predominantly Hutu FDLR, the Raïa Mutomboki are targeting
civilians of Hutu ethnicity whom they consider to be foreigners and allies of the FDLR. In turn, the FDLR retaliate
against civilian populations they believe to be associated with the Raïa Mutomboki.
Taking stock of this situation, the High Commissioner called on all armed groups to immediately cease attacks
against civilians and noted the possible consequences for those responsible for such attacks, referring to the recent
sentencing by the ICC of former rebel leader Thomas Lubanga. SRSG Meece in turn noted with grave concern that
the M23 mutiny had required MONUSCO and FARDC to divert resources away from some areas, while
underscoring MONUSCO’s recent civilian protection activity in localities most affected by Raïa Mutomboki and
FDLR. In addition, the SRSG was encouraged by a recent commitment from the Congolese authorities to deploy
troops to these areas and reiterated the priority the Mission accords to civilian protection.