Regional
DRC: HRW’s obsession with M23 stirs conflict more
Close
to three decades, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been subject
to insecurity and violence stemming from a complex mix of local and foreign
armed groups. These terror groups have led to the death and displacement of
millions of Congolese.
Amid
all the chaos created by the more than 130 armed groups, Human Rights Watch
(HRW) chooses to single out one rebel group, M23, and publish made up reports
about atrocities the rebels allegedly committed.
Titled
“DR Congo: Mass Graves Tied to Rwanda-Backed M23”, the report published on June
14, alleges that the M23 rebel group appears to be responsible for mass graves
containing scores of bodies found in the village of Kishishe, North Kivu,
believed to belong to villagers and captured militia members that M23 fighters
executed between November 2022 and April 2023.
On
top of these allegations, HRW found a way to continue its unrelenting attacks
on Rwanda's leadership with allegations that the country is supporting the
rebel group; but that is unsurprising considering HRW's sinister agenda.
Related: Political
advocacy: Of HRW affixing M23 to Rwanda
But
perhaps the most appalling element of the ‘report’ is HRW urging Congolese
authorities, with the assistance of international partners, to ‘ensure a prompt
and impartial investigation’ into killings and other crimes perpetrated in
Kishishe since November 2022.
This
statement only leaves more questions. Why is HRW only focusing on the M23
rebels, despite other armed groups operating in eastern DRC, committing more
recent atrocities and killings? Why has HRW not requested for investigations to
be made?
Since
the mid 1990s the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) has been operating in eastern
DRC. Formed in 1995 by a coalition of rebel forces – including the Uganda
Muslim Liberation Army and the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda – to
fight against the Ugandan government, ADF has since pledged allegiance to ISIL
and wages frequent deadly raids on villages in DRC and Uganda.
They
are accused of massacring thousands of civilians. In March 2023, UN
Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, put at 485 the number of civilians killed
between December 1 and March 14, by the terrorist group. In the same month, Congolese
authorities confirmed that the ADF was responsible for the death of 44 people,
including women, children and the elderly.
Despite
all these atrocities committed by these terrorists, HRW has chosen to ignore
them and instead focuses on a rebel group that is fighting for its community’s
rights. They also decided to spare their judgment on the genocidal FDLR.
Formed
by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda,
FDLR is responsible for thousands of deaths in DRC. It also killed Italian
Ambassador to DRC Luca Attanasio.
On
top of that, HRW is aware of their collaboration with the Congolese army,
FARDC, where Congolese army officers provide it with direct support, but the American
organization prefers to forget all these facts.
Related: DRC
army supplying arms to FDLR: HRW Report
When
it comes to local armed groups in DRC, HRW turns a blind eye on the violence
they perpetuate. For instance, the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo
(CODECO) is one of the armed groups operating in the restive mineral-rich
region.
In
February, and April 2023, CODECO fighters killed at least 32 and 40 civilians,
respectively. The militants reportedly carried out these assaults in at least
three villages in Djugu Territory, located north of Bunia.
However
HRW has never asked Kinshasa or the international community to ensure that
those who are responsible be ‘fairly prosecuted’, or that investigations of
their crimes be conducted, preserved, and made public.
As
the crisis in eastern DRC rages, there is an escalation of hate speech and
incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence nationwide – and
specifically against Kinyarwanda speakers. On two different occasions the UN
Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, issued
statements warning about these escalations.
The
abuses in eastern DRC, including the targeting of civilians based on their
ethnicity or perceived affiliation to the warring parties must be halted, the
Special Adviser said.
But
in all of HRW’s lengthy statements, they fail to condemn this hate speech, and
constantly fail to address the obvious Genocide against the Congolese Tutsi.
Related: Western
media's silence on DRC hate speech is disturbing
Reports
by HRW only aim to slow down efforts to find a lasting solution to the DRC
crisis.