Congo security forces killed dozens in anti-government protest - U.N.

Record ID: 84058

  • Title: Congo security forces killed dozens in anti-government protest - U.N.
  • Date: 21st October 2016
  • Summary: KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (OCTOBER 20, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF THE MISSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AT THE OFFICE OF ICC PROSECUTOR, AMADY BA, READING A STATEMENT FROM ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR FATOU BEN SOUDA SAYING: "The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the past few weeks raises concerns, particularly the events and certain alleged acts which took place in Kinshasa in September 2016. There is no place for violence." PEOPLE LISTENING ICC FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (French) HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AT THE OFFICE OF ICC PROSECUTOR, AMADY BA, READING A STATEMENT FROM ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR FATOU BEN SOUDA SAYING: "I'd like to reiterate, that any person who commits, orders, incites, encourages, or contributes in any other way to the commission of crimes under the jurisdiction of the ICC is liable to criminal prosecution. My Office will not hesitate to take all appropriate steps to bring to justice those responsible in accordance with the principle of complementarity." CAMERAMEN BA LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 5th November 2016 10:54
  • Keywords: DRC Congo Kinshasa United Nations report protest government
  • Location: KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
  • City: KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
  • Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
  • Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
  • Reuters ID: LVA00154Y72VB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
    Congolese state security services shot, burnt, beat and hacked to death at least 48 civilians and reportedly hired thugs to attack protests last month against the extension of President Joseph Kabila's mandate, the United Nations said on Friday (October 21).
    The death toll of the two days of violence in the capital Kinshasa, which also included four police officers killed by protesters and one other civilian, was higher than during the 2011 electoral process, the U.N. Joint Human Rights Office in Congo (UNJHRO) said in a report.
    Democratic Republic of Congo's government spokesman and justice minister could not be immediately reached for comment and a police spokesman said he had not yet seen the report.
    The government denied last week that on-duty security forces opened fire on protesters, who authorities say were conducting an armed insurrection. In its own report, it said 32 people, including three police officers, were killed by protesters or private security guards, or in accidents.
    The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor sent a delegation to Congo this week to urge restraint by all parties in the coming months and warned that human rights abuses could be prosecuted by the court.
    Congo's main opposition alliance had called for a march on Sept. 19 to demand that Kabila, who has ruled the vast central African country since 2001, step down in December as required by constitutional term limits.
    The country's ruling coalition and other smaller parties agreed last week to postpone elections planned for November until April 2018, citing logistical problems registering millions of voters, but most major opposition parties have rejected the accord.
    Congo has never experienced a peaceful transition of power and international donors fear that the impasse over Kabila's plans to stay on will lead to widespread bloodletting.
    In total, UNJHRO said, there were at least 422 victims of human rights abuses by state agents in Kinshasa between September 19 and 21.
    "This is clearly outrageous and serves to fuel an already explosive situation in the country," said U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein.
    If the civilians killed, 38 were shot by the police, army and presidential guard and seven were burnt to death by members of the presidential guard, including during an attack on the headquarters of the main opposition party, the report said.
    Four police officers were burnt alive or beaten to death by protesters who also looted the headquarters of ruling coalition political parties, UNJHRO said.
    The death toll could be much higher due to the authorities' restrictions on access to morgues and other facilities, it said.
    The report said UNJHRO had received "concordant reports about the distribution by the authorities of machetes and money to about a hundred young men, with a view to disturbing the demonstration."
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