[Report] – In the Kivu provinces of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, armed groups killed 1,900 civilians and abducted more than 3,300 people between June 2017 and June 2019, Human Rights Watch said. Study Group on Congo, based at New York University, in a report released today. The Kivu Security Barrier (Kivu Security Tracker, KST) joint project of the two organizations, has recorded more than 3,000 violent incidents committed by more than 130 armed groups.
Indeed, this 17-page report, « Congo, the forgotten: The figures behind the longest humanitarian crisis in Africa, » used the results of the first two years of the KST to examine general trends in conflict in North Kivu and South Kivu, the main factors contributing to violence and the wider challenges of peacekeeping efforts.
« More than 130 armed groups are fighting for countless reasons in the Kivu provinces of eastern Congo, making this region one of the most violent places in the world. Understanding who is committing atrocities is the first step in making officials accountable and putting an end to abuses, « said Lewis Mudge, director for Central Africa at Human Rights Watch.
Two years, an alarming report
Instead of restoring security, the report said, Congolese government security forces have frequently committed abuses against the civilians they are supposed to protect. Political leaders, intelligence services and security forces have created, supported and used armed groups in Kivu and elsewhere in the country, often to take control of land, mineral resources or tax racks.
The results show that fighting affecting civilians has remained at alarming levels in Kivu over the past two years.
« The epicenter of violence is Beni territory: almost one third of all killings of civilians took place here, mainly because of fighting between Congolese security forces and the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (Allied Democratic Forces). , ADF). Other hot spots include the Rutshuru territory, where more than a third of kidnappings took place, « says the report.
The KST data indicates, contrary to widespread belief, that there is no systematic correlation between violence and mining areas – only 20 percent of violent incidents occur within 20 kilometers of an area. mine.
He added: « Although some of the violence is directly associated with control efforts in the mining areas, armed groups derive income from many sources, including charcoal production, poaching, kidnapping and taxation of all types. of goods and movements. »
All in all, Jason Stearns, director of the Congo Research Group believes that the fighting in recent years shows that peace and stability in eastern DR Congo are difficult to achieve.
« A comprehensive approach is needed, including a strengthened demobilization program and deep reforms at all levels of government to combat impunity, » he said.
Emilie MBOYO
