The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) finds itself under pressure from Human Rights Watch (HRW) to cut its support for army-backed militias operating in South Kivu. The collective, known as the “Wazalendo,” stands accused of perpetrating widespread human rights abuses against local civilians, including acts that may qualify as war crimes.
HRW specifically calls out the Congolese military, also known as FARDC, alleging its involvement with these militias. This collaboration reportedly includes supplying weapons and failing to mitigate attacks on civilians. HRW’s Senior Africa Researcher, Clémentine de Montjoye, emphasized the urgent need for the DRC government to end its backing of the Wazalendo. She stressed that the authorities should dismantle the militia coalition and conduct impartial investigations into the abuses committed.
The issue is severe in the Fizi and Mwenga territories, where HRW has documented disturbing incidents of unlawful killings and lootings. Many of these crimes are ethnically motivated, with victims often accused of associating with M23 rebels. The Banyamulenge, a minority ethnic group mostly comprising Congolese Tutsis, have been particularly targeted. Disturbingly, HRW detailed an attack that resulted in the murder of a 25-year-old Munyamulenge man, shot for allegedly being Rwandan.
Despite a temporary ceasefire arranged between the government and the Wazalendo in April, violence persists in eastern DRC. As various armed factions continue to vie for control over the resource-laden region, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated further. Around 6 million people have been displaced internally, facing dire food shortages amidst ongoing hostilities. Calls have intensified for international intervention to address these mounting crises.
For further reading, consult the original report by HRW via JURIST.