Kinshasa: United Nations report finds arbitrary killings by Rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

The United Nations Human Right Investigation groups have accused various rebels group in the Democratic Republic of Congo of carrying out arbitrary killings against civilians in the eastern part of the volatile country.

The UN Human Rights Office said most of the victims were hacked to death with machetes while scores of others were burnt alive in their homes while they were sleeping in more than 75 rebels attack incidents recorded by the UN Human Rights Office.

"Investigators found that the victims were often those least able to flee the attacks, largely children and the elderly," the UN Human Rights Office said in a statement.

The investigators conducted more than 160 interviews with victims and witnesses during six missions and prompted the UN human rights chief to call for the immediate solution to the problem as it is likely to continue if not checked.

In the news release, the UN Rights Office also warned that the actual number of atrocities could be "considerably greater" because security restraints prevented the investigators from being able to confirm "many more" reports of human rights violations.

"The figures noted in the report reflect cases documented in only some parts of Masisi over a relatively limited period of time, and are thus far from presenting a comprehensive overview of the human rights situation throughout eastern DRC," it said added in the news released.

                  Rebels activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Various rebels groups have stepped up their activities in the region with the leading among them being the M 23 rebels’ movement group.

Early this year, M 23 rebel fighters managed to defeat the national army of the Democratic of Congo who were then pursuing the rebels and the army fled leaving their supplies behind.

Rebels’ activities in the region can therefore be said to be very active since the rebels have much grounds making security very volatile in the region.

Various reports by the UN experts group on rebels’ activities have sparked a serious wrangling between the UN and countries such as the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda in recent times

But this time, the report did not accuse any of these countries but blamed the rebels and many see it as a step in right direction from the United Nations.

Issaka Adams/NationalTurk Africa News