A UN investigation has found that at least 131 civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo died in a November attack by the M23 rebel group.
The UN report said the massacre took place in two villages - Kishishe and Bambo - in the Rutsuhuru district of the eastern North Kivu province.
Investigators said the attack appeared to be a reprisal for a current government offensive on the rebels. M23 denied the massacre, blaming "stray bullets" for just eight deaths.
But the UN's Monusco peacekeeping mission in the country said 102 men, 17 women and 12 children were "arbitrarily executed" by the rebel group "as part of reprisals against the civilian population".
At least 22 women and five girls were also raped, the report said.
"This violence was carried out as part of a campaign of murders, rapes, kidnappings and looting against two villages in the Rutshuru territory as reprisals for the clashes between the M23" and other armed groups, including the FDLR, the statement said, adding that the true number of killed could be even higher. Witnesses said the rebel group broke down doors, shot civilians, looted property and burned villagers out of their homes.
DR Congo conflict: M23 rebels executed over 130 civilians - UN - BBC News
No comments:
Post a Comment