International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan (Credit: icc-cpi.int)

By Gary Raynaldo     – DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan called on armed groups in the DR Congo to abide by international law as violence escalates in the country. Conditions in eastern DR Congo have deteriorated significantly since January as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have expanded control over territory in North Kivu and South Kivu province. The prosecutor of the international war crimes tribunal based in The Hague Netherlands concluded a three-day visit to capital city Kinshasa on Wednesday.

 “Any armed group, any armed forces, any allies of armed groups or armed forces don’t have a blank cheque,” Khan said in a statement.  “They must comply with international humanitarian law. Through the effective application of the law, we must show that the lives of those in the DRC have equal value as those in all other situations addressed by the ICC.”

M23 have captured the main cities of Goma and Bukavu with thousands of people reported killed and displaced to neighboring countries including Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. There are fears the M23 rebels are poised to march on the DRC capital of Kinshasha, some 1,000 miles away from the mineral-rich eastern conflict zone.  The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani, described recently “serious”  human rights violations and abuses—such as summary executions, including of children, and conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence in eastern DRC—following the rapid deterioration of the security situation.

During his visit, the ICC prosecutor met with President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo where discussions focused on the “urgent need to address the grave situation in the eastern DRC,” Khan said.  The prosecutor also met with Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and Head of MONUSCO.   Last week, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution demanding the M23 rebel group immediately cease hostilities and withdraw from all areas it controls in the mineral-rich country.  

“Through the effective application of the law, we must show that the lives of those in the DRC have equal value as those in all other situations addressed by the ICC,” Khan added.  “Any warlord, any militia leader in any part of the DRC should be on notice that we are looking at new ways to forge a stronger partnership with the DRC.”