By RFIPosted on 10-01-2020Modified on 10-01-2020 at 15:07

The United Nations spoke on Friday morning of "crimes against humanity" and perhaps even "genocide" against a community in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It calls into question the murders, persecutions and forced transfers of populations which target the Hema in Ituri.

Violence in Ituri in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, since December 2017, " could present elements constituting crimes against humanity " or even " crime of genocide ", according to a United Nations report. " One of the major challenges of the conflict is indeed the control of the land by the Lendu, " adds this joint report by the United Nations Mission in the Congo (Monusco) and the Human Rights Office.

" At least 701 people have been killed, " added the report. " The vast majority of victims of the attacks seem to have been targeted because of their belonging to the Hema community (at least 402 members of this community killed between December 2017 and September 2019). "

" Clear will to inflict suffering "

Abdoul Aziz Thioye, head of the United Nations Joint Office and representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Kinshasa, reviews the attacks that targeted this community. Attacks attributed to fallen combatants: “ There was a clear will on the part of the attackers to inflict suffering on this community. They have destroyed health posts and sometimes continue to attack camps for the displaced in which members of the Hema community have been gathered. It is clear that there is a real will on the part of the Lendu attackers to force the Hema community to actually leave certain lands to be able to occupy them or simply to be able to proceed to their exploitation. "

Violence between Lendu, mainly farmers, and Hema, breeders and traders, resumed at the end of 2017 in this border province of Uganda, also coveted for its gold and oil, on the banks of Lake Albert.

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