Amnesty International has urged an end to the use of explosive weapons in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s populated areas, calling for accountability regarding civilian casualties related to such attacks. The organization emphasizes compliance with international humanitarian law, and the need for international forces not to contribute to ongoing human rights violations.
Amnesty International has issued a call to end the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a recent press release, the organization urged the International Criminal Court to consider the potential war crimes associated with such weapon deployments. This appeal follows reports of over 150 attacks by both the Rwandan-backed M23 group and the Congolese Army between January and July 2024, resulting in more than 100 civilian deaths, particularly near internally displaced persons’ camps.
The organization emphasizes the necessity for all military entities to adhere to international humanitarian law, which strictly prohibits attacks that indiscriminately harm non-combatants. According to Article 48 of the Geneva Conventions Protocol, parties involved in a conflict must distinguish between civilian populations and combatants to avoid targeting non-military sites. Amnesty asserts that attacks lacking this discrimination are forbidden under Article 51, which addresses indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks.
Agnès Callamard, the Secretary General of Amnesty International, stated that historical trends in eastern DRC clearly demonstrate that without accountability, violations of human rights and humanitarian laws will persist. Moreover, Amnesty calls upon the international community to ensure that military cooperation with the DRC and Rwanda does not facilitate such violations, highlighting the responsibilities of entities such as the EU, Belgium, SADC, and the UN.
Similarly, Human Rights Watch has reported that military confrontations between Rwandan forces and the M23 rebel group have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC. Their reports have documented unlawful killings and instances of rape by M23 fighters in mid-2023, while Rwanda has denied allegations of participation in these violations. As of May 2024, the number of internally displaced persons in the region reached 6.1 million.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been embroiled in conflict for decades, significantly impacting civilian populations. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas has drawn international attention due to the unnecessary civilian casualties. Reports indicating the deployment of unguided rocket systems by both state and non-state actors have prompted human rights organizations to call for stricter adherence to international humanitarian law and accountability for war crimes.
Amnesty International has categorized the use of explosive weapons in populated areas of the DRC as a significant human rights concern, calling for an end to such practices. Acknowledging the historical context of violations, the organization also urges the international community to ensure military support aligns with humanitarian laws. Addressing these violations is critical to alleviating the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
