The worst
could be yet to come in east
Congo's escalating crisis, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said on
Friday, warning that abuses including rape and sexual slavery may increase.
He spoke at
an emergency meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council called by Congo to investigate massive
rights violations it blames on Rwandan-backed M23 rebels who have taken the
city of Goma and are seizing
more territory.
"If
nothing is done, the worst may be yet to come, for the people of the eastern
DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), but also beyond the country’s
borders," Turk told a packed room of diplomats and rights groups in
Geneva.
"All
those with influence must act urgently to put an end to this tragic
situation."
Turk said he
was horrified by emerging, multiple reports of rape, gang rape and sexual
slavery. "This is likely to worsen in the current circumstances," he
said.
Rwanda's
envoy rejected allegations that it was responsible, saying it had proof of an
intended major
attack by its western neighbor.
Dozens of
countries at the meeting condemned rights violations in Congo including several
African states. Washington, formerly a vocal council member, left its seat
empty after President Donald Trump announced the U.S.
was leaving.
Congo has
submitted a motion seeking the creation of a U.N. Fact-Finding Mission which
would be due to provide a full report on eastern Congo abuses by September
2025.
The motion
was adopted by consensus on Friday. An internal United Nations memo on the
negotiations seen by Reuters ahead of the decision showed Rwanda was the only
dissenting voice.
While the
council has no legally binding power, its debates carry political weight, and
scrutiny can raise global pressure on governments.
Sometimes,
investigations mandated by the council can lead to prosecutions for war crimes
in international courts.