The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, has condemned the actions of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo, who recently captured Bukavu, the region’s second-largest city. Türk’s statement revealed alarming reports of the summary execution of children and assaults on hospitals and humanitarian aid warehouses following the rebels’ takeover. He noted that children armed with weapons were involved, underscoring ongoing allegations of child recruitment by both M23 and Congolese government forces.
As fighting continues, a UN commission has been established to investigate human rights violations, including rape and summary executions by both sides. The conflict in the region has escalated, with M23 previously seizing Goma. Reports indicate that 3,000 have died and countless others have been displaced due to the violence. In a grim discovery, over 20 bodies were found in Bukavu shortly after the rebels took control.
M23 claims to protect Tutsis and Rwandan-origin Congolese from discrimination but faces skepticism, with critics suggesting these justifications mask Rwanda’s deeper involvement in the conflict. Unlike their previous withdrawal in 2012, the rebels appear to covet political power this time, amid a humanitarian crisis affecting over six million displaced individuals in the region.