UN chief calls for investigation into attack by Mai-Mai and FDLR in North Kivu, eastern DR Congo

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General on the Democratic Republic of the Congo
From United Nations – Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General - Wednesday, 25 August 2010/via APO:

(NEW YORK) - The Secretary-General is outraged by the rape and assault of at least 154 Congolese civilians, during an attack by armed elements of the Mai-Mai and the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR), in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This is another grave example of both the level of sexual violence and the insecurity that continue to plague the DRC.

The Secretary-General reiterates his call on all armed groups in the DRC to lay down their weapons and join the peace process. The Secretary-General further calls on the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to investigate this incident and bring to justice the perpetrators of these crimes and renew efforts to bring an end to insecurity in the eastern part of the country.

The United Nations supports the efforts of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to fight impunity and ensure the protection of civilians from violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

Given the seriousness of the incident, the Secretary-General has decided to dispatch immediately Assistant Secretary-General Atul Khare, Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations to the DRC. He has also instructed his Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallström, to take charge of the UN’s response and follow-up to this incident.`
- - -

RDC : rapports de violences sexuelles au Nord Kivu, à l’Est de la République démocratique du Congo
NEW YORK, 25 août 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Déclaration du Secrétaire général des Nations Unies.

Le Secrétaire général est indigné par les viols et les agressions sexuelles dont ont été victimes au moins 154 civils congolais lors d’une attaque par des éléments armés Mai-Mai et les Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) à l’est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC). Ces graves incidents illustrent à nouveau le niveau de violence sexuelle ainsi que l’insécurité qui continuent d’affecter la RDC.

Le Secrétaire général réitère son appel à la démobilisation des groupes armés en RDC et leur adhésion au processus de paix en cours. Le Secrétaire général appelle aussi les autorités congolaises à mener une enquête sur ces incidents, à poursuivre en justice les auteurs de ces crimes, et à renouveler leurs efforts pour mettre fin à l’insécurité qui sévit dans cette partie du pays.

Les Nations Unies soutiennent les efforts du Gouvernement de la RDC visant à lutter contre l’impunité et à protéger les civils contre les violations du droit international humanitaire et des droits de l’homme, notamment toutes les formes de violence sexuelle.

Étant donné la gravité de cet incident, le Secrétaire général a décidé de dépêcher immédiatement le Sous-secrétaire général aux opérations de maintien de la paix, Atul Khare, en RDC. Il a également demandé à sa Représentante spéciale pour la violence sexuelle dans les conflits, Margot Wallström, de diriger les initiatives des Nations Unies en réponse à cet incident ainsi que d’en assurer le suivi.

Click on labels here below to view reports in the archives of Congo Watch.

Eight Red Cross staff kidnapped near Fizi in South Kivu by Mai Mai Yakutumba militia

Red Cross: 8 staff kidnapped in eastern Congo
From The Associated Press, Tuesday, 13 April 2010:

GENEVA - Eight Red Cross staff have been kidnapped by an armed group in eastern Congo, the international aid agency said Tuesday.

The seven Congolese and one Swiss national were seized Friday afternoon near the town of Fizi in South Kivu province by the Mai Mai Yakutumba rebels, the International Committee of the Red Cross said in Geneva.

"The ICRC has been able to get in touch with some of our colleagues after the incident," spokesman Marcal Izard told The Associated Press.

He declined to say whether the Red Cross is in contact with the kidnappers.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry said it was aware of the situation and was in touch with the Red Cross and Congolese authorities.

The Red Cross has several offices in South Kivu, which like much of eastern Congo has been wracked by violence since the 1994 genocide in neighboring Rwanda spilled war across the border. The shadowy Mai Mai militia is one of many armed groups in the area. Their fighters have been seen using rudimentary weapons like spears and their group is believed to value mysticism.

In early 2009, a top rebel leader from another militia was arrested and the Congolese government began a campaign to integrate all militias, including the Mai Mai, into the national army.

"It is in order to protect and assist armed-conflict victims that we have been carrying out our activities in the area," said Franz Rauchenstein, the head of the ICRC's mission in Congo.

"We continue to insist that the strictly neutral, impartial and humanitarian nature of our work be recognized, and that our colleagues be able to return to their loved ones soon," he said in a statement.

Staff of the neutral aid group have also been targeted for kidnapping in other conflict regions recently.

Three foreign Red Cross workers were kidnapped in the Philippines last year, and French staff members were seized in Chad and Sudan. All have since been released.