Holy See “deeply concerned” about Human Rights Violations in DR Congo

Violence in Eastern DRC has created a severe humanitarian crisis with more than 5.5 million people displaced from their homes, reportedly the third-highest number of internally displaced people in the world.

More than 120 armed groups are fighting for control of the Eastern Congo, a region rich with natural resources, Reuters reported.

In February this year, the Catholic charity Denis Hurley Peace Institute (DHPI) warned that the war in the Eastern part of DRC could transition to infighting within armed groups that had pitched camp in the Eastern part of the country.

In a report shared with ACI Africa, the peace entity of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) warned of “a powder keg waiting to go off”, especially with what the entity described as a growing animosity among the armed groups.

The peace entity reported that the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, who according to the Congolese government, are being supported by Rwanda, were increasing their area of influence further inland into the Central African country. The rebels were also said to have started in Nyiragongo, a territory in DRC’s North Kivu province.

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Members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have reportedly carried out several attacks on villages in the DRC.

In his October 9 address, Mons. Putzer called on the international community “not to underestimate the particularly grave threat posed by ADF’s continued attacks and growing extremist radicalization, highlighting attacks against Christian communities.”

The native of Wisconsin, USA who served in the Vatican diplomatic corps in the DRC before moving to Geneva further said, “Many victims of human rights violations do not receive a fair or speedy trial, if ever they receive one.”

He continued, “We cannot grow accustomed to the bloodshed that has marked this country for decades, causing millions of deaths that remain mostly unknown elsewhere.”

“What is happening here needs to be known,” Mons. Putzer said about DRC, adding that “the current peace processes, which I greatly encourage, need to be sustained by concrete deeds, and commitments should be maintained.”