UN mission accuses DRC militia of recruiting children as soldiers

THE UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has expressed its concern about the persistent conflict in the Kasai provinces, where violent atrocities are being committed by the Kamuina Nsapu militia.

The militia is recruiting and using child soldiers while targeting symbols and institutions of state authority, the UN Stabilisation Mission in the country (Monusco) said earlier this week.

It also cited the disproportionate use of force by state security forces, known as the FARDC, in its response to the situation.

Since last Thursday there have been continuing clashes between Kamuina Nsapu militia and Congolese security forces in the area of Tshimbulu (160km south-east of Kananga), with unconfirmed reports of between 30 and 50 deaths.

The UN mission stated that the special representative of the secretarygeneral and head of Monusco, Maman Sidikou, strongly condemned the actions of the militia, and expressed his concern about repeated reports of the disproportionate use of force by the FARDC.

Sidikou expressed regret about the deaths and injuries suffered in these clashes.

He called upon the Congolese security forces to act in line with acceptable standards of national and international laws in their response to the situation.

Sidikou offered the mission’s support for an investigation of “this regrettable situation”.

Monusco has deployed one of its mobile monitoring response teams in the area covering Tshikapa, Dibaya, Bunkode, Tshimbulu and Luiza to possibly prevent, investigate and document human rights violations in line with its mandate. – ANA