By Amie Sillito / GICJ
A spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Liz Throssell, revealed that ethnically motivated attacks on internally displaced people’s (IDP’s) camps by armed groups in East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are rising incrementally. Following the deadly attacks which occurred last week and further attempts over the weekend, the risk of other IDP sites being attacked is high. Ms Throssell stated that on 1 February 2022 at least 62 IDPs who are members of the Hema ethnic community, were killed and 38 others injured by the Cooperation for the Development of Congo (CODECO) armed group in a night-time attack on the Plaine Savo IDP camp. The victims were either shot or violently attacked with machetes and knives which has sent shock waves through the country and instilled fear in IDP’s residing in camps.
The Plaine Savo attack is the latest in a string of devastating raids on IDP sites by CODECO in Ituri Province, where ethnic tensions between the Hema and Lendu communities have existed for years. The UN spokesperson further revealed that between 19 and 28 November 2021, four other sites were attacked by CODECO, including the village of Drodro. Around 58 people originating from the Hema community were killed, including at least nine women and four children. In conjunction with the deadly attacks CODECO also weaponised sexual violence against members of the community.
Furthermore, Ms Throssell stated that the government of the DRC was concerned about possible attacks in retaliation to the violence by the Ituri Self-Defence Popular Front (FPAC-Zaire) armed group comprising of members of the Heman community. There is also concern that other IDP sites will be attacked, particularly Loda and Djaiba, located close to Plaine Savo and hosting members of the Hema community. Military authorities in the region launched a preliminary investigation into the devastating attack on Plaine Savo, and it is hoped that the attacks will cease.
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) calls the Democratic Republic of the Congo to safeguard victims access to justice by ensuring proper investigations are carried out in an independent and impartial manner. It is imperative that transparency is made a top priority during the investigation and that other attacks on IDP camps are investigated in order to hold perpetrators responsible and rule out the possibility of impunity. We further urge the government to work in close connection with the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) who are able to provide technical and logistical support to the authorities for these investigations and any potential prosecutions.
Justice, Human Rights, Geneva, geneva4justice, GICJ, Geneva International Centre For Justice
