Resurgent M23 rebels threaten civilians in Dem. Rep. of Congo: Human Rights Watch

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) - Past fighting between the Democratic Republic of Congo government forces and rebels has led to widespread abuses against the civilian population and prolonged humanitarian crises, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Thursday.

"Congolese security forces and the M23 armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo must minimize harm to civilians as fighting resumes," it said.

Senior Congo researcher Thomas Fessy denounced the "countless atrocities" and renewed fighting in the North Kivu province caused by the M23 and said he is concerned about the danger to civilians in the Central African country.

"The failure of governments in the region to seek justice for the commanders of all parties involved in past atrocities increases concerns about the safety of civilians in future fighting," he said.

Current hostilities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo should not deter the Felix Tshisekedi administration and neighboring countries from seeking justice for abuses committed during previous armed conflicts on Congolese territory, according to the rights group.

"The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), which provides military support to Congolese government forces, should assist civilians in need of protection," it added.

M23 rebels, who originated a mutiny against the government, have been spreading terror in Congolese regions contributing to an armed conflict that has been ongoing since May 22, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee homes, according to Human Rights Watch.

They relaunched hostilities in March against the army to demand the implementation of peace agreements reached in 2013 with state leaders.

Summary executions of civilians, rapes of women and girls and forced recruitment of men and boys have been reported.

Currently, relations are tense between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Congolese authorities and its population accuse Rwanda of being at the heart of the M23 operations.

Rwandan authorities have in turn accused Congo of collusion with Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebels, who have been refugees in eastern Congo for nearly 30 years.

Other regions are polluted by rebel groups. The Democratic Republic of Congo government has joined forces with Burundi and Uganda to counter armed groups from those countries, known as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the RED-Tabara group (Resistance for the Rule of Law in Burundi), based in South Kivu province.