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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Update on Democratic Republique of Congo to the 59th Human Rights Council
La situation en République démocratique du Congo est aujourd’hui encore plus grave et alarmante, a averti lundi le Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme Volker Türk.
« Toutes les parties au conflit dans les provinces du Nord-Kivu et du Sud-Kivu ont commis des violations ou atteintes aux droits humains, ainsi que des violations du droit international humanitaire, » a declaré Türk au Conseil des droits de l’homme à Genève.
Ce sont les conclusions préliminaires de la Mission d’établissement des faits que le Conseil à son Bureau il y a quatre mois, et qui s’est concentrée sur la période depuis janvier 2025.
« Pour l’instant, les enquêtes et analyses menées par la Mission démontrent une apparente absence totale de considération pour la protection des civils pendant et après les opérations militaires, » a dit Türk.
« Le M23, soutenu par le Rwanda, a utilisé des armes lourdes lors de son offensive sur Goma en janvier, frappant des quartiers densément peuplés et des camps de personnes déplacées.
Quand les forces armées de la RDC se sont repliées, il y a eu un effondrement total de la chaine de commandement, de contrôle et de discipline militaire. Des soldats congolais, et des membres des milices Wazalendo soutenues par la RDC, ont tué, violé et pillé. »
Le Bureau des droits de l’homme est en train d’enquêter sur d’autres violations présumées du droit international humanitaire, et beaucoup d’entre elles pourraient constituer des crimes de guerre.
Le M23 a procédé à des exécutions sommaires et extrajudiciaires, en violation manifeste des droits humains et du droit international humanitaire, et qui pourraient être qualifiées de crimes de guerre. La Mission d’établissement des faits enquête aussi sur des exécutions sommaires présumées commises par des membres des FARDC et des milices Wazalendo.
La Mission enquête également sur des allégations d’arrestations arbitraires et de disparitions forcées par les services de renseignements militaires des FARDC de personnes soupçonnées de soutenir le M23.
« La Mission a reçu des informations sur l’usage choquant de la violence sexuelle par toutes les parties au conflit dans le Nord-Kivu et le Sud-Kivu. Ces violences auraient été utilisées comme une forme de représailles contre certaines communautés, contre les proches des opposants présumés, et contre des membres d’autres groupes ethniques. »
Des centaines de milliers de personnes déplacées subissent les conséquences les plus graves des combats dans le Nord-Kivu et le Sud-Kivu. Environ un million de personnes ont été forcées de fuir leur domicile, ou de se déplacer d’un site temporaire à un autre.
La Mission documente des violations et atteintes aux droits humains d’une ampleur et étendue effroyables. Il est très préoccupant que les affrontements continuent, sans répit, dans le Nord-Kivu et le Sud-Kivu.
« J’appelle toutes les parties au conflit à s’engager immédiatement en faveur d’un cessez-le-feu et à reprendre les négociations, et de respecter le droit international humanitaire et les droits humains. Je renouvelle mon appel au Rwanda à retirer ses troupes du territoire de la RDC et à cesser tout soutien au M23, » a déclaré Türk.
Le Haut-Commissaire a également appelé tous les États qui ont une influence sur les parties au conflit à encourager le respect du droit international.
« Je les exhorte à faire tout ce qui est en leur pouvoir pour répondre à cette grave crise dans cette région, et à soutenir les efforts de médiation pour trouver une solution durable, notamment en traitant les causes profondes de cette instabilité, » a conclu Türk.
Translation :
The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is now even more serious and alarming, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned on Monday.
‘All parties to the conflict in the provinces of North and South Kivu have committed human rights violations and abuses, as well as violations of international humanitarian law,’ Türk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
These are the preliminary conclusions of the Fact-Finding Mission that the Council entrusted to its Office four months ago, and which focused on the period since January 2025.
‘For the time being, the investigations and analyses carried out by the Mission demonstrate an apparent total lack of consideration for the protection of civilians during and after military operations,’ said Türk.
"The M23, supported by Rwanda, used heavy weapons during its offensive on Goma in January, hitting densely populated neighbourhoods and camps for displaced people.
When the DRC's armed forces withdrew, there was a complete breakdown in the chain of command, control and military discipline. Congolese soldiers and members of the DRC-backed Wazalendo militia killed, raped and pillaged.
The Human Rights Office is currently investigating other alleged violations of international humanitarian law, many of which could constitute crimes under international law.
The Human Rights Office is currently investigating other alleged violations of international humanitarian law, many of which could constitute war crimes.
The M23 has carried out summary and extrajudicial executions, in clear violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, which could be qualified as war crimes. The Fact-Finding Mission is also investigating alleged summary executions committed by members of the FARDC and the Wazalendo militia.
The Mission is also investigating allegations of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances by FARDC military intelligence of people suspected of supporting the M23.
"The Mission has received information on the shocking use of sexual violence by all parties to the conflict in North and South Kivu. This violence has reportedly been used as a form of reprisal against certain communities, against relatives of suspected opponents, and against members of other ethnic groups."
Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are suffering the most serious consequences of the fighting in North and South Kivu. Around one million people have been forced to flee their homes or move from one temporary site to another.
The Mission has documented human rights violations and abuses on an appalling scale and scope. It is very worrying that clashes continue unabated in North and South Kivu.
"I call on all parties to the conflict to commit immediately to a ceasefire and to resume negotiations, and to respect international humanitarian law and human rights. I renew my call on Rwanda to withdraw its troops from DRC territory and to cease all support for the M23," said Türk.
The High Commissioner also called on all States with influence over the parties to the conflict to encourage respect for international law.
‘I urge them to do everything in their power to respond to this serious crisis in the region, and to support mediation efforts to find a lasting solution, in particular by addressing the root causes of this instability,’ concluded Türk.
For more information and media requests, please contact
Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org
Jeremy Laurence - + 41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org
Thameen Al-Kheetan - + - +41 22 917 4232 / thameen.alkheetan@un.org
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STORY: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Update on Democratic Republique of Congo to the 59th Human Rights Council
TRT: 02:39
SOURCE: OHCHR / UNOG
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: French/NATS- translation in English below
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 16 June 2025 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Exterior shot : Palais des Nations
- Wide shot : Room 20
- Wide shot : Podium
- SOUNDBITE (French)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: « Toutes les parties au conflit dans les provinces du Nord-Kivu et du Sud-Kivu ont commis des violations ou atteintes aux droits humains, ainsi que des violations du droit international humanitaire.”
- Cut away: Room 20
- SOUNDBITE (French)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Pour l’instant, les enquêtes et analyses menées par la Mission démontrent une apparente absence totale de considération pour la protection des civils pendant et après les opérations militaires.”
- Cut away: Room 20
- SOUNDBITE (French)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Le M23, soutenu par le Rwanda, a utilisé des armes lourdes lors de son offensive sur Goma en janvier, frappant des quartiers densément peuplés et des camps de personnes déplacées. Quand les forces armées de la RDC se sont repliées, il y a eu un effondrement total de la chaine de commandement, de contrôle et de discipline militaire. Des soldats congolais, et des membres des milices Wazalendo soutenues par la RDC, ont tué, violé et pillé.”
- Cut away: Room 20
- SOUNDBITE (French)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “La Mission a reçu des informations sur l’usage choquant de la violence sexuelle par toutes les parties au conflit dans le Nord-Kivu et le Sud-Kivu. Ces violences auraient été utilisées comme une forme de représailles contre certaines communautés, contre les proches des opposants présumés, et contre des membres d’autres groupes ethniques.”
- Cut away: Room 20
- SOUNDBITE (French)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “J’appelle toutes les parties au conflit à s’engager immédiatement en faveur d’un cessez-le-feu et à reprendre les négociations, et de respecter le droit international humanitaire et les droits humains. Je renouvelle mon appel au Rwanda à retirer ses troupes du territoire de la RDC et à cesser tout soutien au M23.”
- Cut away: Room 20
- SOUNDBITE (French)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Je les exhorte à faire tout ce qui est en leur pouvoir pour répondre à cette grave crise dans cette région, et à soutenir les efforts de médiation pour trouver une solution durable, notamment en traitant les causes profondes de cette instabilité.”
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