Search
  1. Home
  2. Africa
  3. DRC

Rights group concerned over arming of Katangese youth

    ACCRA

    DRC’s leading human rights organisation, l’Association africaine de defense des droits de l’homme (ASADHO) has expressed concern over the mass recruitment of young people in Katanga province by the provincial and military authorities. In a statement, received by IRIN today (Tuesday), ASADHO said weapons were being distributed to people of Katangese origin by Popular Civil Defence units (DCP). According to witness accounts, these paramilitary groups were “terrorising” other citizens of the province. ASADHO recalled that between 1991 and 1993, Katanga - then Shaba - was subjected to the ethnic cleansing of the Kasai people by the-then governor Kyingu wa Kumwanza, currently the DRC ambassador to Kenya. Over 3,000 people were killed and 500,000 displaced at that time. The organisation urged the international community to take note of the dangers posed by the current arming of the civilian Katangese population.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

    Share this article

    Our ability to deliver compelling, field-based reporting on humanitarian crises rests on a few key principles: deep expertise, an unwavering commitment to amplifying affected voices, and a belief in the power of independent journalism to drive real change.

    We need your help to sustain and expand our work. Your donation will support our unique approach to journalism, helping fund everything from field-based investigations to the innovative storytelling that ensures marginalised voices are heard.

    Please consider joining our membership programme. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact on how the world responds to crises.

    Become a member of The New Humanitarian

    Support our journalism and become more involved in our community. Help us deliver informative, accessible, independent journalism that you can trust and provides accountability to the millions of people affected by crises worldwide.

    Join