Eastern Congo’s triple tragedy: Pro-state militia in Uvira is as atrocious as M23 rebels and national army
With more than 700,000 inhabitants and sitting on the border with Burundi, Uvira is the last major stronghold of the Congolese government in South Kivu – one of two provinces that the M23 and Rwandan troops are currently occupying.
UN accused of abetting forced transfers of refugees from M23-held areas in Congo to Rwanda
UNHCR’s role in the deportations has raised major concerns, as the agency’s mandate allows it to repatriate refugees only when they fully consent to return to their countries of origin. At the transit centre in Goma, UNHCR staff sought to determine nationalities, but people were not informed that they had a choice about leaving, according to the five affected people.
Killed and displaced with guns, residents of eastern Congo face another crisis: Land grabs and assassinations by M23 rebels in Rutshuru
It is widely believed that Rwanda’s current support for the M23 is driven by geopolitical and economic interests, although the Congolese army has given it a pretext by allying with various militias, including the FDLR, to strengthen its ranks against the rebels.
