Democratic Republic of Congo: Civilians at Risk as M23 Approaches Goma
Eastern civilian Congo Democratic Republic Due to the increase in the risk of the abuse of M23 armed groups supported by the Rwanda National Defense Force (RDF) Near GomaHuman rights observation today said that this is the capital of Beijiwo. M23 opposes the Congo army and Abuse of militia alliance Known as “WAZALENDO” (“Patriot”).
Fighting Disaster consequences For the humanitarian situation around Goma. On January 21, 2025, M23 and Rwanda forces CapturedThis is a small town 40 kilometers away from GOMA, cutting off the supply route of one to 2 million people in the city. The battle made at least nine people around Goma fled to the city. United Nations refugee Agent (refugee department) Report In the past three weeks, the increased battles have caused 400,000 people to displacement, increasing more than 4 million people who have displaced them under the terrible conditions in East Congo.
“The situation faced by Goma civilians is becoming more and more dangerous, and the demand for humanitarianism is huge.” Clémentinede MontJoyeSenior Researcher of African Human Rights Observation. “M23, Wazalendo and the terrorist abuse of the army of Rwanda and the Congo should be obvious to the relevant government, they need to urge them to protect the warriors to protect civilians.”
The parties of conflicts should respect International humanitarian lawEnsure the protection of civilians and promote assistance.
Human rights observation talked with the source of the military, diplomacy and humanitarian sources through the telephone, diplomatic, and humanitarian sources from the January 23rd. The position of the time stamp on January 23 was verified, showing at least five armed personnel wearing uniforms and carrying equipment, which was consistent with the Rwanda army.
Humanitarian institution Report Since mid -January, the shells of towns near Goma have caused civilians injury and death. The refugee commissioner’s office said that the displacement locations around the Goma and Nanjiwa were also fired, killing at least two children and destroying the shelter. A humanitarian source told human rights to observe that “currently about 30 % to 40 % of the injured are civilians.” On January 24, the International Red Cross Commission explain After the patients including women and children poured into the patient, they were “saturated” in Goma’s hospital.
The Beiji Wo authorities issued a decree on January 23, prohibiting a small ship travel between the north and South Kovo on the northern part of Kowo. Two people of Minova told human rights observers that since M23 occupied the town (also on the lake), it has been effectively prohibited by boat to GOMA.
The source of Goma also expressed concern that the Vasaren combatant retreat from Goma may attack civilians, and Further loot and plunder This city. The death of the Governor of the North Kovo, General Peter SirimwamiIn battle, Confirmation on January 24Pay more concern about the authorities’ ability to control the ability of Vasara militia.
Since the end of 2024, the hostile operation of the East of the Congo has been upgraded. It is reported that in Ratru, Valica, Massi and North Kishi, and Kaiti of Nanjiv have fought. On January 19, two workers of Sansfrontières (doctors without borders or doctors without borders) were slight Injuried When Masisi’s ordinary reference hospital was attacked near the hospital. Doctors without borders said that the sound of gunfire also attacked a group of hospitals and doctors without borders.
The Human Rights Observation Organization is investigating the report. With the support of the Rwanda army, the M23 has performed forced labor and forced recruitment and other abuse. Humanitarian sources said that after the capture of Massi in January, M23 ordered the demolition of two displaced locations.
Human rights observation Report Throughout 2024, the Rwanda Army and M23 were unable to leave the troubles camp and other densely populated areas near Goma. The Congo Military Force and Allied Army Vasaroramada faced the risks facing the risks of displacement in the camp by deploying artillery. The troops of both sides killed and raped the residents of the camp, interfered with the assistance delivery, and committed other abuse.
Although Felix TshiseKedi, the Congo President Felix TshiseKedi, requires 14,000 members of the 14,000 members of the French first letter abbreviation to maintain peaceful tasks in the United Nations of the Congo, but it is retained in Beijiwo and Ituri Province. The Southern African Development Community missions composed of Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania were deployed in the southern African development community in the southern Africa.
Human rights observations say that the leaders of the Congo and Rwida and the M23 and the leaders of the armed groups belonging to the Vasarono alliance should issue a clear order, do not target civilians, and minimize the loss of civilian life and property.
International humanitarian law know The Congo and the Rwida armed forces and other armed forces and non -national armed groups were conducted as armed conflicts. Conflict parties must always distinguish between combatants and civilians, and will never deliberately target civilians or civilians. The warriors must take all feasible prevention measures to minimize damage to civilian and civilian objects. It is forbidden to attack the attacks on civilians or cannot distinguish between combatants and civilians, or it will cause incomparable damage to civilians compared with expected military returns.
The government should publicly support and urgently adopt sanctions on senior commanders, including Rwanda officials who support M23. The United Nations Security Council responded to officials of Congo and Rwida officials to conduct travel ban and asset freezing. The official found that he was providing military assistance to armed groups. Angola has been leading the African Union’s mediation to the conflict, as well as relevant governments, including France, Britain and the United States, and the European Union, and the European Union. group.
EU and its member states should immediately review their military assistance with the Rwanda Armed Forces, including European Peace Facilities Recent decision In order to update its deployment in Cabo Delgado in Mozambique to ensure that they will not contribute to the abuse of the East of the Congo directly or indirectly.
The African Union Peace and Security Council should urgently convene a series of state and government presidents to condemn continuous human rights, coordinate the mediation of AU leadership, seek armed groups that dismiss non -state abuse, and coordinate investigations of serious violations.
In October 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Announce His office will “renew the investigation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo” and “focus … (on) any of the Roman regulations that have occurred in North Kile since January 2022.” The government started for the first time in 2004. ICC has been investigating the serious crime of the Congo ask The court’s investigation should include the role of the Congo military in the crime committed by the Militarian military and the investigation of the role of the Rwanda military participating in the M23 atrocities.
Demonthoy said: “The Rwanda Forces, M23, and the Riracle Heritage of the Congo Army and its allies, including murder, rape and robbery.” “They have no consequences of these crimes, and the relevant government states that the guilty will not be punished. It will not occupy the upper hand, which is more important than ever. “
Published by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Observation (HRW).
