The United Nations human rights chief sounded the alarm on Friday over the worsening crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), warning that the violence could extend beyond the country’s borders if left unchecked.
“If nothing is done, the worst may be yet to come, for the people of the eastern DRC, but also beyond the country’s borders,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk told an emergency session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. He urged all actors with influence to step in and stop the bloodshed.
The DRC government convened the meeting, calling for an urgent probe into what it describes as grave human rights violations committed by the M23 rebel group, which it accuses Rwanda of backing. The rebels recently seized control of Goma, a major city in eastern Congo, and are advancing further.
“It is urgent to exert international pressure so that Rwanda ceases its support of the armed groups and withdraws from Congolese territory as soon as possible,” said Congo’s Minister of Communication Patrick Muyaya.
Rwanda has denied involvement, instead warning of a security threat to its own territory. “We categorically oppose the DRC’s attempts to portray Rwanda as being responsible for its instability in the eastern DRC,” said James Ngango, Rwanda’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva.
Ngango claimed new intelligence suggested a “large-scale attack against Rwanda” was imminent following M23’s capture of Goma, alleging that weapons were being stockpiled near the city’s airport.
