The EU reacted with horror on Thursday 3 June to deadly attacks by members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) armed group on camps for displaced people near the towns of Boga (Ituri province) and Tchabi (North Kivu) in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the massacres of civilians committed in recent days in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular in the Provinces of Ituri and North Kivu”, stressed the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, and the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, in a joint statement.
They added, “The EU reiterates its concern about the continuing activities of armed groups, accused of war crimes and serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in these provinces. The perpetrators must be brought to justice by the authorities”.
The EU calls on the Congolese authorities and the security forces involved to strengthen the protection of the population.
It “reaffirms its support to all those who are committed to working closely with the population to deal with the consequences of the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano and to help the populations displaced either because of persistent insecurity or because of natural disasters”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)