HRW urges African Summit to address ongoing atrocities in DRC and Sudan

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on African leaders attending the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit, set for October 31, 2024, in Bujumbura, Burundi, to prioritize “rights-based solutions” to address crises in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan.

In a statement seen by Shia Waves Agency, the organization urged leaders to discuss steps to end atrocities committed by the M23 armed group, the Rwandan army, Congolese security forces, and allied militias, as well as to strengthen accountability and support a UN mission to protect civilians in Sudan amidst ongoing violations.

Human Rights Watch emphasized that the summit offers a crucial opportunity for African leaders to address these regional crises, pointing out that impunity fuels continued abuses. The statement highlighted extensive abuses by the Rwanda-backed M23 group in the DRC, including killings, mass rape, and property destruction.

Concerning Sudan, the organization documented ethnic cleansing by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against non-Arab communities in West Darfur, involving executions and sexual violence. It called for urgent action to protect civilians’ rights and end these atrocities.