The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is on an official visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the invitation of the Congolese government. Volker Türk concluded his stay by urging the authorities in particular to make the restoration of state authority a priority in the east of the country.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded an official visit this Thursday to DRC, at the invitation of the Congolese government. During his stay, Volker Türk explored the east of the country, visiting camps for displaced people and meeting human rights defenders, as well as representatives of civil society organizations.
In Kinshasa, the High Commissioner held discussions with President Félix Tshisekedi, various senior government officials, as well as his UN colleagues. Concluding his visit, he described the situation in eastern DRC as particularly dire and called for more action.
“ We must secure the areas where people suffer »
After observing what he describes as a tragedy, Volker Türk urges the Congolese government to make the restoration of state authority a priority. “ It’s not just strengthening the security forces. It is also the judiciary, education, the health system. We must secure the areas where people are suffering. It is absolutely crucial to invest in the East and in Eastern governance. This must be a priority “, he said.
Volker Türk addressed the legal responsibility of neighboring countries involved in the violence in eastern DRC. He asked them to ensure that armed groups do not receive any support. Concerning Kigali, recently accused by Washington of attacking the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), he mentioned very high-level discussions on this subject: “ There are discussions at the Security Council level. These discussions confront States with their responsibilities. »
On the military front, tension persists. Thursday morning, new clashes broke out between pro-government “Wazalendo” fighters and M23 rebels supported by neighboring Rwanda on several fronts in the Bwito chiefdom, Rutshuru territory.
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