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Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday condemned the killing of Teke civilians in Kinshasa in late November, underscoring the growing threat of intercommunal violence in western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
HRW described the killings as “an apparent retaliatory attack linked to rising intercommunal tensions.” The organization urged Congolese authorities to take immediate action to address the root causes of these tensions and to protect vulnerable communities from further attacks. The organization also warned that failure to act decisively risks entrenching cycles of revenge and retaliation that could destabilize areas close to the capital, a scenario with national implications.
The violence occurred in Nkana village in Kwamouth territory, almost 75 kilometers northeast of the DRC’s capital, Kinshasa. The massacre left at least 22 civilians dead and many more injured by assailants identified as Mobondo fighters. According to HRW, the Mobondo militia killed indiscriminately using firearms and machetes and targeted “mostly ethnic Teke villagers in their homes as they attempted to flee.” The reported motive for the attack was the refusal of Teke residents to appoint a Yaka customary chief. In the days leading up to the assault, threatening messages were sent to some Teke villagers.
Following the attack, Congolese authorities deployed military personnel to the area and announced an investigation into the killings. Some lawmakers called on the provincial assembly to adopt urgent measures to address the humanitarian crisis.
Kwamouth territory has seen repeated clashes between Yaka and Teke communities over land, customary authority, and political representation since June 2022. This has been condemned by civil society activists, human rights groups, and traditional authorities.
Under international law, the principle of distinction requires that combatants distinguish between civilians and military targets.
The post HRW urges action after intercommunal massacre in DRC appeared first on JURIST - News.
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HRW described the killings as “an apparent retaliatory attack linked to rising intercommunal tensions.” The organization urged Congolese authorities to take immediate action to address the root causes of these tensions and to protect vulnerable communities from further attacks. The organization also warned that failure to act decisively risks entrenching cycles of revenge and retaliation that could destabilize areas close to the capital, a scenario with national implications.
The violence occurred in Nkana village in Kwamouth territory, almost 75 kilometers northeast of the DRC’s capital, Kinshasa. The massacre left at least 22 civilians dead and many more injured by assailants identified as Mobondo fighters. According to HRW, the Mobondo militia killed indiscriminately using firearms and machetes and targeted “mostly ethnic Teke villagers in their homes as they attempted to flee.” The reported motive for the attack was the refusal of Teke residents to appoint a Yaka customary chief. In the days leading up to the assault, threatening messages were sent to some Teke villagers.
Following the attack, Congolese authorities deployed military personnel to the area and announced an investigation into the killings. Some lawmakers called on the provincial assembly to adopt urgent measures to address the humanitarian crisis.
Kwamouth territory has seen repeated clashes between Yaka and Teke communities over land, customary authority, and political representation since June 2022. This has been condemned by civil society activists, human rights groups, and traditional authorities.
Under international law, the principle of distinction requires that combatants distinguish between civilians and military targets.
The post HRW urges action after intercommunal massacre in DRC appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.