UPDATE - UN peacekeeping mission condemns rebel attacks that killed 90 civilians in 1 week in eastern DR Congo

​​​​​​​ADDS UN SPOKESMAN'S REMARKS

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Friday strongly condemned recent deadly rebel attacks in eastern North Kivu province, which killed at least 89 people.

The UN Organization Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) said in a statement that available information indicates that the attacks in the Bapere and Baswagha chiefdoms resulted in the killing of 89 civilians, including at least 20 women and an undetermined number of children.

The attacks in several Lubero Territory localities from Nov. 13 to 19 were blamed on members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) armed group.

According to a MONUSCO statement, at least 17 civilians, including women receiving care in the maternity ward, were killed inside a Catholic church-run health center in Byambwe.

The rebels also set fire to four wards housing patients and committed serious violations such as abductions, looting of medical supplies, home burnings and property destruction in communities already facing severe humanitarian vulnerability, it said.

“MONUSCO extends its sincere condolences to the bereaved families and communities and expresses the solidarity of the United Nations with all those affected. The mission recalls that violence committed against civilians, including in medical facilities, may constitute war crimes and serious violations of international humanitarian law,” said Bruno Lemarquis, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' deputy special representative in Congo and acting head of MONUSCO.

The mission reaffirmed its commitment to standing with the communities and pledged to continue supporting Congolese authorities in their efforts to protect civilians, prevent human rights violations, and combat impunity.

- 'Truly horrific' situation in DRC

Separately, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric decried the "truly horrific" situation.

"As we dig deeper, and as we have sent people there, the information we have received is truly horrific," Dujarric told reporters Friday, as he extended condolences to affected families and communities.

He stressed that attacks on civilians, particularly medical facilities, may amount to war crimes and serious violations of international humanitarian law.

"The mission remains fully committed and will continue to support the Congolese authorities in their efforts to protect civilians, prevent human rights violations and combat impunity," he said, reiterating the UN's demand to armed groups to lay down their weapons "unconditionally."

The security situation in the Lubero and Beni territories of North Kivu province has remained concerning since October, after deadly attacks attributed to the ADF, according to a recent report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Schools in several communities remain closed, jeopardizing the resumption of educational activities, while health facilities are also severely impacted by a lack of medicines, forcing thousands of people to be displaced, the report said.

On Oct. 7, the report said, a private truck carrying humanitarian aid to displaced populations in Eringeti and Mayi-Moya camps was set on fire in Oicha by unidentified gunmen.

According to OCHA, the incident highlights the high risks for humanitarian workers and the access challenges in the area.

In addition, the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) remains a concern.

The ADF group, which has been active in eastern Congo for years, pledged allegiance in 2019 to ISIS (Daesh).

Despite joint military operations launched by the Congolese and Ugandan armies in 2021, the group still poses a threat.

*Diyar Guldogan from Washington, DC contributed to this report