Leadership (Abuja)
Abiodun Oluwarotimi
4 November 2009
New York — The head of United Nations peacekeeping has called for a joint investigation into the targeted killing this year of dozens of civilians in the far east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by elements of the country's military.
Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, in a statement made available to UN Correspondents demanded that the UN peacekeeping force in the DRC (known as MONUC) and the Congolese armed forces (known as FARDC) should conduct the inquiry.
Mr. Le Roy, who is currently on an official visit to the eastern DRC, said MONUC would immediately suspend its logistical support to the FARDC units believed to be implicated in the killings until the results of the investigation are known.
He continued that it would be up to the FARDC to take necessary measures once the probe is completed.
Meanwhile, United Nations spokesperson has told journalists in New York that "compelling evidence" had emerged that a brigade of the was responsible for the targeted murders of 62 civilians, including many women and children, in the Lukweti area of strife-torn North Kivu province between May and September this year.
"According to our information, these civilians were clearly targeted in attacks by certain units of the [army]," Mr. Le Roy noted.
MONUC forces have supported the FARDC in operations against Rwandan Hutu rebels based in North Kivu, but human rights groups have accused the army of carrying out numerous abuses against civilians during the operations.
Last month the independent UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Philip Alston described the military operations as "catastrophic" and urged that an immediate and thorough investigation be established.
Meanwhile, the government of the Democractic Republic of Congo has condemned the withdrawer of UN troops backing its troops in fighting the rebels.
The country informations minister said "the UN was wrong to withdraw backing from government troops fighting rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo".
Lambert Mende Omalanga told the BBC he knew nothing about the alleged killing of 62 civilians by the army - the reason the UN gave for its move. Human rights groups have long accused soldiers of raping and killing civilians - and the UN of complicity.
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