UPDF continues their occupation of Kasese, as they detain the King and burns his Palace!

kasese-27-11-2016

“We suspect that the attackers might have acquired weapons from Congo” – AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi

As there been reported that even as the siege of Rwenzururu Kingdoms Palace at Kasese, the levels of killings of Royal Guards, Soldiers, Police Officers and Civilians; as well as their reports of Crime Preventers that we’re sent from Fort Portal to Kasese to settle scores with the civilians.

The Ombusinga bwa Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere we’re arrested and taken by helicopter to be questioned at in Kampala. What is been showed online is disturbing pictures of civilians killed in the streets and carried away by the Police Officers and Soldiers, pictures I don’t want to share, but is possible to see on Facebook. Its brothers and sisters, who could have been our kin. That been called terrorist by the Authorities, but before trial killed in the midst of streets of Kasese, as the Security Operatives sealed the town and also went with all force towards the Buhikira Royal Palace, where they killed a dozen of Royal Guards and casualties on the way.

Earlier this morning the gunshots and bullets have been fired around the palace as it has continued from yesterday. It’s been heard in the streets around the palace so the Automatic Weapons has been used by the Army and Police to stop the men at the Palace.

While the Uganda Police Force under the Intelligence of Kaweesi pounds on the creation of “Yiira Republic” like the useful tool it is, because it resurface every-time the Authorities knocks on the Palace in Kasese. This proves the inevitable excuse of the Security Organziation. The Army has claimed they have killed 41 militants, if so they are partly the Royal Guards of the King of Kasese, that the

“Now, UPDF second division spokesperson Capt.Arthur King Timbaganya says the death toll is increasing. He however says the force will further update the media later. He adds that they are engaging the Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu king and leaders in closed door meetings aimed at bringing back peace to the region” (91.2 Crooze FM, 27.11.2016).

kasese-27-11-2016-p2

“Update: 23 royal guards,13 police officers dead. Omusinga insists on keeping his guards while army wants them to surrender” (NTV Uganda, 27.11.2016).

Today the Army as they have airlifted the Omusinga and yesterday the Queen detained at Kabarole, they have taken it further and even lit the Palace on fire to prove their ill-intent against the Kingdom.  The king himself will during today be transferred to Luzira Maximum Security Prison while waiting for charges as he was besieged from yesterday.

A look into the History as the Mengo Palace has also been attacked by the Government back in the day. As they didn’t want to comply with then President Obote, as the King didn’t want his Kasese District put into four districts. Therefore the President Museveni sent his guns to silence the Kingdom with force and forcing him to comply.

“The 1966 Crisis:

On 15 April 1966 with the  Parliament surrounded by troops, Milon Obote introduced without notice a new constitution to be voted upon that very day. It was passed without debate and the Prime Minister informed Members of Parliament (MPs) that they would find their copies in their pigeonholes. This constitution came to be known as the Pigeonhole Constitution. Amongst other things, the federal constitutional status of kingdoms was abolished and the office of Prime Minister merged with that of the President and all executive powers became vested in Milton Obote.Milton Obote declared Uganda a republic” (…) “The Kabaka and his kingdom establishment at Mengo refused to recognize the supremacy of the pigeonhole constitution, insisting on the 1962 consitution. On 24th May 1966 the Uganda army under the command of General Idi Amin but on the orders of Obote stormed the Kabaka’s Palace. . The Kabaka managed to escape and went to exile in Britain where he later died from” (Fortuneof Africa.com – History of Uganda).

One of killed Royal Guards ID Card!
One of killed Royal Guards ID Card!

So now the UPDF has under another General or Operative attacked a Royal Palace and forced the King out of it, this after killing dozens of Royal Guards, which they also did earlier in the year. This is revising of the history under Dr. Milton Obote, but in the name of President Museveni who tends to repeat history, with just more flawed outcome and modern excuses like the Yiira Republic, which hasn’t been in the lingo except for when they attack the Palace.

Today there are even reports that people are still hiding in Kasese, for instance at the Springs Hotel International in the Central Kasese.

“Security source tells us over 130 royal guards have been arrested in the raid on the palace” (Raymond Mujuni, 27.11.2016). If so this with the levels of killings from the soldiers are the total guards of the Palace into the levels of 160 or 170. Because the reports of killings yesterday we’re 32 Royal Guards, together with all the other who died over the 48 hours shows the ill-intent of the Security Organization.

This here is not over. There will come more and the reported numbers of civilians, soldiers, royal guards and Police Officers who has lost their lives, and all the ones that has been hurt by the violence, as I am sure there even Crime Preventers with machetes who has hurt fellow citizens in the will of the President. Peace.

Update: On the Kasese skirmishes at the Rwenzururu Royal Palace!

kasese-26-11-2016-p1

There been movement as even on NBS TV AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi has gone with numbers from the Police Force, who has taken part of the skirmishes at the Palace today. This is where they have attacked the Palace of Ombusinga bwa Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere.

The numbers which now are more than earlier there are reported up to 46 Royal Guards (NTV Uganda figures are saying 32 Royal guards) and up to 10 Police officers who have lost their lives, than they have not counted the Special Operatives from the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF). Also, there reports of numbers about 40 civilian casualties. One of the UPDF men that are down is a Mayor.

Hon Yokas Bihande stated this earlier today:

“The situation is very tense in the whole District. Many cultural sites were attacked. Bulemba in Ihandiro the grave of Isaya Mukirania; kagando the grave of Kapolyo Tibamwenda and Nyamutswa was burnt down; the cutural site at Kabwe in Kisinga is right now under attack; Buhikira Royal Palance is sarrounded and the Queen was detained at the Police station in Fort Portal. Thats how the situation is. So as you go to sleep pray to God to make the people of Rwenzururu Kingdom react to this situation in a sober manner. God save the King and the Kingdom” (Bihande, 26.11.2016).

All roads into Kasese have been sealed-off so there, the UPDF believes the attacks at Kabarole earlier this month was made by the Royal Guards.

What the New Vision reports after the Skirmishes in the Palace today are: “The police and the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) recovered an AK47 gun during an operation to secure the Rwenzori region” (the New Vision, 26.11.2016).

So the worth of using massive force in the whole region was for one gun, is that what the National Resistance Movement newspaper is saying? Is that all the dead civilians, the dead police officers, the dead soldiers and other casualties!

This was reported from Arthur King Timbaganya:

“UPDF/UPF conducted another operation against armed criminal groups/camps in Rwenzori region/Kasese. 12 armed gangs some wielding SMGs, matchets, spears pangas were killed in areas of Maliba, Bugoye, Kagando, mubuku and Kasese town. 10 police officers killed at Malina, Mubuku, Kagando, Bugoye. 01 UPDF soldier and 03 police officers were injured. 08 suspects arrested by police for interrogation. 01 SMG belonging to police was lost to the gangs. 01 police pick up burnt at Kagando. 02 full SMG magazines, matchets, OBR uniforms, Military shoes recovered at Hihandiro hills . The town is now calm with UPDF and UPF patrols. The people of Rwenzori are assured of their right to security. The operation is to rid off the region Kirumira Mutima’ armed gangs that are establishing ‘milintary’ camps aimed at threatening the peace of the people of Uganda and especially Rwenzori region” (Timbanganya, 26.11.2016).

The Agnes Ithungu Nyabaghole Queen of the Kingdom was earlier in the day arrested and is detained at Kabarole Police stateion. She was on her way on the way to Kampala when she was arrested.

Little material damage of the day: “Police truck burnt in Kagando as reprisal attacks continue in Kasese”.

This here is what I could get until now. The situation isn’t clear and numbers-game of dead shouldn’t be important now. Families have lost the loved ones, both of soldiers, police-officers, civilians and royal-guards. What should worry is how the Army can just besiege a royal institution and kill, without statements and therefore the different rumors are coming. Like the Yiira Republic, ADF or the Kirumiramutima.

Unconfirmed is that there are over a 100 civilians who are wounded.

So now that they claim that the Royal Guards we’re behind the earlier clashes in the Kabarole area, while today the Royal burial sites has been put on fire as the Royal Palace has been sieged and attacked by the army. Together with the Police Officers who has claimed that the Operation is under way and everything will go well.

Well, if the amount of lives and the unnecessary violence is needed for an operation like this, like an occupation force in their own country. They have now done the same with the Flying Squad earlier in the year after the General Election, which seems like it is repeatedly attacked to stop the Kingdom from exists.

We can just wonder and questions when is going on, or if it is just that the UPDF on order from Mzee wants to make kingdom silent. As he wants Kasese District into four districts, but that is just talk for the moment.

We will see what kind of statements the Kingdom, the UPDF, the Police and other civil society in the Rwenzori or Rwenzururu will say, as the coming hours and days will remind us of the violence and killings. What is sure is that there been too much of it this year in Kasese and Rwenzori as they have been targeted by the NRM and their Security Operatives. Peace.  

Rwenzururu Prime Minister says kingdom is ready to talk with government (Youtube-Clip)

The Army besiege and kills Rwenzururu King’s Royal Guards at the Palace in Kasese!

kasese-26-11-2016-p1

“If you had any plans of coming to town,please dont” – A Plea from a Kasese resident!

There is risen tension and problems in the Rwenzori and Rwenzori Sub-Region as the Kabarole skirmishes and today the Kasese town has been closed off by the UPDF who has put the Obusinga bwa Rwenzuru Charles Wesley Mumbere. The UPDF has closed the office of the King; also the Palace has been under siege as the King is there with his Royal Guards.

The DPC of Kasese said this:

“Guys don’t worry we just having a small operation in town and we fully incharge..but ofcourse just keep where u are until we are done..lest u become a victim of circumstances”.

Heavily-armed elite units of Uganda’s armed forces have been heavily deployed in Kasese District following clashes with armed militants in Rwenzori region on Thursday night. The UPDF overran several bases of a militia group linked to the radical Rwenzururu Kingdom. At least 12 people died in the clashes though locals say the number could be much higher. Since then, the UPDF have been increasing deployments in the area to thwart attempts of a possible breakout of violence” (Grejeen News Uganda, 2016).

“The attackers are not yet identified. They are gangs. If you remember just recently , schools were closed, a health centre closed and they were scaring people so we thought we should take action,” said UPDF spojesperson Col Paddy Ankunda.

So the DPC is saying the army will violently charge against civilians if they are in the area of the UPDF. This again, proves the elements of the army who at times just occupy their own and takes control with force and no thoughts of the locals or why they are attacking the Kingdom, again!

All shops have been closed and usually busy streets are deserted as the UPDF and gun-shots around the Palace. None of whom is the reason or why the UPDF again starts battling in Rwenzori. At the Palace there been a stand-off between the Royal Guards, the Police Force and the Army. As the NRM regime continues to fight the Kingdom with all force, as they have done since before and after the General Election in 2016. Wonder why the Army has issues with the Kingdom now. There is one confirmed dead on the side of Kingdom Mbusa Kabwe. But the numbers that the Army has killed this time around is unsure.

The UPDF and UPF are claiming a youth counter-terrorist group who has taken their own tax in the area. Well, this is here is directly again aiming against the kingdom, not some random rebels as they claim. So their validation of the attacks seems weak and like excuses more than actual intelligence. People have been forced by the Army to evacuate the town with hands-up as the streets we’re taken with mambas and rifles.

Its again blamed on a group called: “Kirumiramutima” the Strong hearted, though they just surface every-time the UPDF rolls in with heavy gear into town like morning dew; they pop-up, as there speculated that the King resisted to be taken into custody and therefore the Royal Guards are sealing off and fending of the Army and Police for the sake of his safety. There been reported up to 4 Royal Guards killed in the skirmish from the UPDF. The Spokesperson for UPDF confirm they have shot 18 persons in Kasese District, they claim their fighting insurgents from the Allied Defense Force (ADF) that has been inside Democratic Republic of Congo, but it’s heritage is from the Rwenzori region. Captain Arthur Timbagnya has confirmed this.

kasese-26-11-2016-p2

But what boggles me than, that the Royal Guards are not ADF or Strong Hearted, why are they killing more Royal Guards as they did during the skirmishes in March? What is up with the UPDF hatred for the Rwenzururu Kingdom?  There are some who even say 8 Royal Guards has been killed, wonder if the Army has plans to finish off the king to as they are clearing his guards of apparently. This report comes from the OC CID and OC Station of Maliba in Buyisumbo Sub-County who confirms.

The thing we should also wonder about, this comes a month after the King didn’t accept the request of the Republic to try to split the District. Something the Central Leadership has proposed in the past. That he did on the 20th October, and now the Army besiege his Palace.

“The proposal which was tabled in a meeting of the Kasese NRM Caucus and the NRM Executive Committe together with the selected NRM leaders at State House Entebbe on Wednesday seeks to split Kasese into four districts of Bwera, Hima, Kasese & Katwe. “When my people are together, i dont have a problem. I agree with the split of Kasese district because a district with over a million people can not provide everyone service delivery , decentralisation removes friction based on sectarianism” said Mr.Museveni” (Sonnie News, 13.10.2016).

So if it that the reason, that the King doesn’t want to comply with the wish of the President as he has to show force to silence the Royal King with his Special Operatives to prove who is the Grand Leader and who orders are just. Therefore the new skirmishes happen as the King doesn’t want to follow the President. Therefore the President and his Army says it is radical elements, but that might be radical because he doesn’t want Kasese to become scattered.

While we’re on it:

“According to an eyewitness, loud gunshots and military movements are audible and visible in what is the ‘frontline’ of UPDF and the Yiira separatists who were armed with spears and arrows face off” (…) “Speaking to Lydia Tumushabe police spokesperson for Rwenzori region, a combined security operation has taken over Nyamuswa to containing the ferocity of the ‘Esyomango’ a popular group with the Rwenzururu king though still visible in embalmed t-shirts” (…) “A local leader who preferred anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter said tension has been brewing in the area with bickering between the Bakonzo and the Batooro over the proposed secession” (…) “Yiira State is said to be a wish for some officials and supporters of Rwenzururu Kingdom. However, Rwenzururu King Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere previously said the Yiira Republic is being agitated for by his subjects in eastern DR-Congo. There are many ethnic Bakonzo who live in eastern DRC” (Kasese orugambo hottest secrets and rumours news bulletin’s post, 26.11.2016).

So the Yiira Republic comes dusted up like relic who nobody has seen or heard about since last skirmish. But a succession between Bakonzo or Batooro seems more likely as they also want to regain status as Kingdoms on the same level as the Rwenzururu King Mumbere as he is a Bakonzo. But that is all talk right now. If the wish for a Yiira republic where real, than the fights would have continued all year and the people would have come with force, as they have been silenced since the last time the Ugandan Army went into town.

Also reported that two policemen are feared dead in the battles, three are feared to be dead, by the battles on the outskirts of Kasese (Raymond Mujuni, 26.11.2016) .

So there are many reasons for this, either thing that counts is the wish for power or control, the others are just that the UPDF and Police needs to validate their return and killings of Royal Guards, which they have done before with different reasons. Something that they tried to force and didn’t silence the violence when IGP Kale Kayihura visited Rwenzori neither was happening when President Museveni came with his rifle. Peace.

Kabarole Clashes: Guns and Machetes Recovered (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNruVcCe2KY

“Security has been beefed up in kabarole district as a joint operation of the police and UPDF continues a search for dissidents believed to be in the hideouts in the hills a day after eight were killed in a shoot out
Bodies of those killed have been retrieved and guns and machetes recovered” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

RDC: “Detournementes des fondes des menages destines aux policiers de le Leni/Beni (31.10.2016)

rdc-beni-31-10-2016-p1rdc-beni-31-10-2016-p2

Communique de la Septieme Reunion de haut niveau du Mecanisme Regional de suivi de l’Accord-cadre pour la paix, la Securite et la Cooperation pour la Republique Democratique du Congo et la Region (26.10.2016)

rdc-26-10-2016-p1rdc-26-10-2016-p2rdc-26-10-2016-p3rdc-26-10-2016-p4rdc-26-10-2016-p5

Our brave New World Order… Is too leave the ICC

niccolo-machiavelli-quotes-5

“Why is UN not paying much attention to member states that are clearly sliding into turmoil and crisis and instead is majorly involved in the after effects of Humanitarian assistance. It doesn’t make sense. We can’t wait until it’s too.”Francis Mwijukye [35th Inter Parliamentary Union- Geneva: High level United Nations Management committee Meeting on Development assistance, Humanitarian assistance, peace keeping operations and Mormative treaty related knowledge, 26.10.2016]

We are living in a brave new world where the world order is switching… its twists and turns, the morning dew disappears and the sun kisses the earth yet again. The last few days the world has changed. Because Nations and States have made decisions that matters; they are not only talking, but now they are acting on it.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) of The Hague is under fire. After Burundi, South Africa and Gambia are thinking of pulling out of the International Court that access the genocides and crimes against humanity.

With the escalated conflicts, the stories of lives doing whatever they can flee nations, this is happening from the internal conflict inside Burundi, Burundians refugees are now in Tanzania, Rwanda and in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This because the President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to stay in power for a third term; when the Constitution of Burundi said the Executive only could have two!

displaced-families-wait-for-health-care-assistance-at-the-un-protected-site-in-wau-photo_iom_mohamm

The same with the internal fighting between SPLM/A VS. SPLM/A-IO in South Sudan; where there is battle of power between President Salva Kiir and former FVP Dr. Riek Machar. Because of the conflict in South Sudan the civilian refugees have fled to Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Ethiopia. Now MONUSCO got SPLM/A-IO and Dr. Machar from the DRC to Khartoum earlier this year.

In Kenya this is happening: while the Somali Refugees are now being sent home from Kenya under the command of the government there. This happening while opposition in all of the countries mentioned has optionally torturing, arresting, detaining and even harassing them if needed be. The Kenyan Government using the fear of Al-Shabaab to send the refugees away and also hustle more donor-funding from the United States. That happens because the Jubilee apparently didn’t’ earn enough coins on NYS, Eurobonds or whatever scheme they had in play at the time.

In this New World order that is arranged while the Government are using their Security Organizations to silence opposition. While the Nation with the African Union (AU) Headquarters and are the leader of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Ethiopian Government even uses helicopters, artillery and soldiers to kill civilians in the regions of Amhara and Oromo people. This is a Nation who has soldiers in Peacekeeping mission all around the Continent, but using all kind of force to oppress their own.

UN Burundi

So in this place and time with more totalitarian regimes, with more leaders not leaving offices and with less political freedom; the International Justice is winding down. The rule of law internationally right now is losing its power, while the United Nation’s negations and diplomatic missions like the Inter-Burundian Dialogue under former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mpaka hasn’t gone anywhere. While the dialogue between UN’s own Edem Kodjo hasn’t created anything resembling a General Election run by the CENI in the DRC. That is because President Joseph Kabila has no plan of leaving office without using force on his own. This is happening while the bloodshed continues in the Kivu’s, while the MONUSCO and FARDC watching it in silence. ADF-NALU and the Mayi-Mayi continues as well together with the Ex-FARDC Gen. Muhindo  Akili Mundos has also blood on his hands. This is happening while the Rwandan State still can export high-grade minerals that they cannot even produce or has mines to extract on their soil. This has been happening since the first war in the late 1990s.

So the New World Order is more of the same… the same kind of violence, the other change is the new brave leaders who defy the International Order. They don’t want to follow it when they feel it is unfair. United Nations (UN) might be next or the World Trade Organization (WTO) or the World Health Organization (WHO). As they might respect the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the World Bank (World Bank) because they need their financial stability or the financial stimulus that backs the budgets and aspects the government needs to pay their elites, businesses and whatever it takes to keep the regimes a-float.

This is the grand issues… the human rights violations, killings and detentions… so the Presidents and their Administrations are now afraid of the ICC. They are worried that their actions be served by the Court and they have to answer for their crimes. Doesn’t matter if this court exists or not; the UN should put up Tribunals after the Internal Conflicts like they done in the past. Than it is not direct prosecutions or charges that the ICC has put on Executives or any in the inner-circle of ruling regimes as they know their using illegal forces to silence their people and citizens. Though the feelings from African Nations that they are feeling threaten by the ICC and their actions as they are not going-in on Europeans or Americans in general, while African Generals and Politicians are hand-picked.

fatou-bensouda-quote

I’m just waiting for the honourable nations of Morocco, Mauritania, Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Togo, Guinea, and Equatorial Guinea, and so on… There are more that will make decisions to leave, as even Cote d’Ivoire might revoke their place.

There are fears on the horizon, the ICC is losing its standing, the international community better listen as the men who are greedy on power and resources take it in these days by any means and hope to get away with it, while their people suffer. The only differences at our time are that information is not forgotten or not told. It’s there for those who listen; time to consider and rethink the World Order and where we want to be. Peace.

OHCHR Report 2016: Proven Human Rights Violations in the DRC!

11-24-monusco-drc

The newest report from Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) together with United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) dropped a report about Human Rights violations this October. These shows the violations of human rights, killings and rapes that have happen over a certain time period.  The reports themselves say enough about the extent of how the Government and their Security Organizations does, plus the guerrilla warfare and the results of that in the DRC.

The reports are vivid and direct from political prisoners to rape incidence… the words themselves of what they did to the civilians there. Take a look!

Initiatives and public advocacy conducted by the Congolese authorities, with the support of the international community, have resulted in the conviction of State agents for sexual violence in conflict in at least 231 cases, during the period under review. Also, according to information made available to the UNJHRO, at least 447 soldiers of the Congolese National Army (Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo – FARDC) and 155 agents of the Congolese National Police (Police nationale congolaise – PNC) have been convicted for acts constituting human rights violations during the period under analysis. Despite the remarkable efforts made and considering the structural and financial difficulties facing the judicial system, this is a very low number compared to the 4,032 human rights violations committed by State agents. This, in addition to other factors, also shows that lack of effective prosecution contributes to the commission of other violations” (OHCHR/MONUSCO, P: iv, 2016).

Conflict Areas of Congo:

“During the reporting period, the six provinces affected by the conflict in eastern DRC, namely Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Bas-Uélé and Tshopo provinces registered the highest numbers of 5 human rights violations and abuses, which were mainly committed by combatants of more than 30 different armed groups. Between 1 January 2014 and end of March 2016, among the armed groups, the combatants of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) committed the largest number of abuses (685), followed by the Front for Patriotic Resistance in Ituri (FRPI) (662) and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) (424). These abuses were mainly committed during attacks launched on villages, in a bid to control territories rich in natural resources or in reprisal against some individuals suspected of cooperating with parties to the conflict” (…) “. State actors have also committed human rights violations in eastern DRC, in particular FARDC soldiers and PNC agents. These State actors, mainly FARDC soldiers, committed human rights violations or violations of international humanitarian law during military operations against armed groups” (OHCHR/MONUSCO, P:4-5, 2016).

Political Prisoners:

“In the current electoral context, concern has been expressed in relation to actions taken by the judiciary and viewed as Government interference in the justice system. For example, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders expressed concern about “the arbitrary detention of three human rights defenders, Mr Fred Bauma Winga, Mr Christopher Ngoy Mutamba and Mr Yves Makwambala, which seem to be related to their legitimate and peaceful human rights activities” as well as “allegations of illegal obtaining of evidence, procedural flaws and unfair trials”. The Special Rapporteur further “voiced his concern at the difficult situation in which human rights defenders exercise their right to freedom of association, of peaceful assembly, of opinion and expression, in the DRC” (OHCHR/MONUSCO, P:9, 2016).

Prions:

“Weaknesses in the penitentiary system have been raised on multiple occasions during 2015 Etats généraux de la justice, and identified as a major obstacle to the fight against impunity. The UNJHRO has documented the escape of 2,604 people from detention centres in 2014 and 201526. Mass escapes take place on a regular basis throughout the countr” (…) “One illustrating example is the mass escape of 18 October 2014 of 326 out of the 433 detainees (130 condemned persons and 196 people in preventive detention) from the prison of Butembo, North Kivu province, following an attack on the prison by four men armed with AK-47 trying to free nine detained soldiers who turned out to be absent from the prison. To this day, only about a hundred of those escaped persons have been found” (OHCHR/MONUSCO, P: 10, 2016).

ADF Violence:

“From 1 October to 31 December 2014, at least 237 people – including 65 women and 35 children – were killed by suspected ADF combatants. At least 47 civilians were wounded, 20 were abducted and two were victims of sexual violence. During this period, suspected ADF elements have attacked at least 35 villages, using machetes, hammers and knives, amongst others, and carrying out summary executions of civilians. During the same period, the UNJHRO also documented the destruction and looting of houses. From 28 February 2016 to March 2016, civilians were targeted by suspected ADF combatants in several villages on both sides of the border between North Kivu and Ituri, in Bambuka-Kisiski (Beni territory, North Kivu province) and Bandavilemba (Irumu territory, Ituri province)” (OHCHR/MONUSCO, P: 12, 2016).

FARDC rape in Goma 2012:

In November 2012, after the capture of Goma by the M23 armed group, FARDC soldiers withdrew to Minova, in South Kivu province, where they committed mass rapes and other human rights violations during a period of 10 days. On 5 May 2014, the Military Operational Court of North Kivu delivered its verdict on this case and sentenced 26 FARDC soldiers to prison terms ranging from three years to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity. Thirteen other soldiers have meanwhile been acquitted” (OHCHR/MONUSCO, P 14, 2016).

Musenyi:

“From 20 to 22 September 2015, FARDC soldiers assigned to 33071st Battalion under the leadership of Colonel Jules Dhenyo Beker reportedly committed several human rights violations in Musenyi village, in the vicinity of Maibano, Kalehe territory, South Kivu province, during an operation to track down Rayia Mutomboki chief Mweke Atobaibwa. Civilians were arrested and taken to a school used by the military operation’s leadership. A 16-week old baby reportedly died following a beating. Nineteen women were raped (or gang-raped in some cases), 31 people were subjected to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatments and arbitrary arrests while 78 others were subjected to looting and/or extortions. The next day, a high ranking FARDC official reportedly visited the scene of the incident and ordered the population not to report what had happened” (OHCHR/MONUSCO, P: 32, 2016).

Kavumu:

“Since May 2013, at least 20 children under 12 and thirty children aged between 12 and 17 have reportedly been abducted, raped and subjected to genital mutilations in Kavumu, 35 km from Bukavu, in the groupement of Bugorhe, Kabare territory, South Kivu province. The victims were reportedly abducted in their sleep without any witness and returned home or near their residence after being raped or mutilated. According to judicial authorities, these crimes were reportedly perpetrated in the context of initiation rituals and fetishist practices. Reportedly, these rapes and abductions also sought to terrorize the local population. On 17 March 2016, in Kavumu, a human rights defender who had spoken out on cases of rape against children in Kavumu and denounced the implication of a local leader, as well as the inaction of judicial authorities, was summarily executed by armed men wearing PNC uniforms.” (OHCHR/MONUSCO, P: 33, 2016).

For the ones that hasn’t followed the nation, the FARDC and the Guerrillas in the DRC will this be eye-opening, for others this is old news. Still, the reports prove certain aspects of life in regions and parts of DRC… This is more to show the dirty and nitty gritty that too many civilians and people of the DRC have lived through. This is what you can call a stern warning that people should care about the senseless violence against humanity in the DRC. Peace.

Reference:

OHCA/MONUSCO – ‘Accountability for Human Rights Violations and Abuses in the DRC: Achievements, Challenges and Way forward’ (1 January 2014 – 31 March 2016) – October 2016

RDC: Communiqué de Lambert Mende sur les nouvelles Sanction Américaines (29.09.2016)

rdc-sanctions-us-29-09-2016