AFRICA/DR CONGO - Civil society calls for international enquiry into massaccres in the area of i Beni

Monday, 29 February 2016 armed groups   civil society  

MONUSCO MIL Mi-24 Hind in operations against ADF-Nal

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - Terrorists belonging to ADF-Nalu group enjoy complicity in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the part of “uncontrolled elements of Ugandan army and security forces ”. This was affirmed in a statement following a meeting of “Social Dialogue on the persisting presence of ADF and allies in the area of Beni” promoted by a local Study Centre for the promotion of peace, democracy and human rights (CEPADHO).
The ADF-Nalu group, originally from Uganda and active for several years in the area of Beni in North Kivu (east DRC), is said to be assuming the characteristics of a Jihadist terrorist group (see Fides 5/11/2015). A fact mentioned in the Civil Society statement. “We deplore, on the basis of numerous witnesses, – says the statement sent to Fides – the presence of Islamist elements coming from various parts of east African countries (Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Chad, South Sudan, Burundi).
“We are certain that the activity of ADF in DR Congo could soon diminish were the direct or indirect support it has hitherto enjoyed to cease” said the statement.
To tackle the threat of ADF the statement suggests: cooperation between the Congolese army and the UN forces in DRC United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission (MONUSCO) should resume with “immediate” launching of joint military operations against the terrorist group; the creation of a system of tracing and certification of timber (one of ADF’s main sources of income); an enquiry into complicity on the part of army and security forces to identify persons involved in illegal trading of timber; more control of former guerrilla fighters demobbed and inserted in civil society.
The statement calls on the international community to investigate massacres committed in that area of the DRC and to verify charges that ADF injured members were admitted to Ugandan hospitals . (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 29/2/2016)


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