101 killed as militants and soldiers clash in Congo

AT LEAST 101 people are reported to have been killed by soldiers in clashes between military forces and members of the Kamuina Nsapu militia in central Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past five days, the UN says.

About 39 killed between February 9 and 13 were women, caught in the shooting, when Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) soldiers opened fire indiscriminately with machine guns when they saw militia fighters, Liz Throssell, a spokesperson for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the media at a news briefing at the UN offices in Geneva, citing data received from sources.

The militia members were reportedly armed mainly with machetes and spears.

“We are deeply concerned at the reported high number of deaths, which if confirmed would suggest excessive and disproportionate use of force by the soldiers,” said Throssell, noting that the UN Joint Human Rights Office is seeking to verify the exact number of victims.

Calling on the FARDC soldiers to abide by standards under national law and international human rights law and urging military commanders to reinforce this message with their troops, she pleaded for restraint and force to only be used when necessary and proportionate to the threat, “to minimise damage and injury and to respect and preserve human lives”.

According to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, this latest violence follows “atrocities” committed by both sides it has documented since August last year, when a customary chief (after whom the Kamuina Nsapu militia is named) was killed by the armed forces.

Calling on authorities for a full and independent investigation, the office offered its support to investigations into other allegations of human rights violations and abuses committed by the FARDC and the militia.

“We reiterate our call for increased efforts to find durable solutions with customary chiefs,” said Throssell.