US House of Representatives Member Congressman André Carson has introduced a resolution condemning ethnic violence in eastern DR Congo and warned of “possible genocide” against Kinyarwanda-speaking Tutsi communities.
On Thursday 1st February, Congressman Carson, who represents the state of Indiana, said members of DR Congo’s armed forces (FARDC) were engaged in grave acts of violence against ethnic minorities, such as massacres and sexual violence.
“Human rights organisations and advocacy groups have documented concerning acts of violence performed by members of the Armed Forces of the DRC and militias against ethnic minorities,” Carson said in a statement.
Congressman Carson stated that the targets are primarily Kinyarwanda-speaking communities.
He added that the acts of FARDC soldiers could be classified as genocide in one or more criteria’s under Article II of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
“Armed groups and often abusive security forces continue to carry out massacres, abductions, rape and sexual violence, recruitment of children, and other attacks on civilians,” he said.
“Individuals fleeing violence from the Democratic Republic of the Congo make up one of Indiana’s largest refugee populations.”
Congressman Carson was quoted as saying in the statement that he was concerned that the situation in the DR Congo had not received the international attention it merits for such grave acts of violence.
