UN concern over rise in ethnic-based hate in DRC

By Nathan Morley

The DRC is a country in turmoil following a disputed election last month which saw bureaucratic chaos disrupt ballots to choose the president, lawmakers, and municipality councilors.

As it stands, the election commission has only announced the result of the presidential vote – a win for current president Felix Tshisekedi. However, on Sunday, Congo’s election commission said it has cancelled votes cast for 82 of the 101,000 candidates in the election over alleged fraud and other issues.

From the outset, the opposition has rejected the vote as a sham.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was very concerned about the rise in ethnic-based hate speech and incitement to violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He said hateful, dehumanising and inciteful rhetoric is abhorrent and can only deepen tension and violence in the DRC itself, as well as putting regional security at risk.

He added post-election calls for violent behaviour were concerning in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, which have been tormented for decades by armed groups and ethnic killings as well as the regions of Kasai and Katanga.

Turk also urged the authorities to investigate all reports of hate speech and incitement to violence and to hold those responsible to account.

Elsewhere, at least 300 people have been killed in floods caused by heavy rains across the country. Deluges and landslides are familiar during the rainy season, which runs until May.