Amnesty International (AI) has called for immediate investigations into reports of atrocities committed by members of the March 23 Movement (M23) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Development Diaries reports that the rights organisation made the call following the rebel group’s withdrawal from several areas in the country’s North-Kivu province.
War crimes and possible crimes against humanity, including rape and summary killings, were reportedly committed by the M23.
‘They broke through the gate of the compound and rounded up all the men present, seven in total, whom they killed. Five soldiers then raped us: six women and me. They called us FDLR wives’, AI quoted one of the survivors as saying.
In a statement, AI’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, said, ‘Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the United Nations, must promptly send investigators to the areas vacated by M23 to carry out thorough investigations into credible allegations of mass rapes and summary killings, to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
‘This should include all those up in the line of command and any states that may have supported M23’.
The DRC authorities and humanitarian agencies were also urged to step in and provide medical and other assistance to the survivors of rape and other victims.
Photo source: Amnesty International
