The United Nations Human Rights Council has officially appointed a team of international experts to investigate widespread human rights violations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where decades of violence have intensified in recent years.
Announced on Monday in Geneva, the council selected Arnauld Akodjenou of Benin to chair the inquiry, alongside Maxine Marcus, a German-American expert in international criminal law, and Clément Nyaletsossi Voule of Togo, a seasoned human rights advocate.
The three-member panel will examine alleged atrocities committed in North and South Kivu provinces, where renewed fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel movement—reportedly backed by Rwanda—has displaced hundreds of thousands and left thousands dead. The M23 insurgency has taken control of key cities including Goma and Bukavu, aggravating one of Africa’s longest-running humanitarian crises.
The UN authorized the creation of the commission earlier this year to identify perpetrators of rights abuses and potential war crimes, ensuring accountability for those responsible. However, funding shortages had delayed the launch of the mission, prompting concerns that global attention was waning amid competing international crises.
In a statement, Swiss ambassador Jürg Lauber, who chairs the UN council session, said the appointments signal a renewed commitment to uncovering the truth about ongoing violations and to ensuring justice for victims.
The experts are expected to begin fieldwork in early 2026, with a preliminary report due in 2027. Their findings are anticipated to play a crucial role in shaping future international responses and peace efforts in the mineral-rich yet conflict-torn region.
The establishment of this panel marks a pivotal move in global efforts to confront impunity and restore accountability in a region where civilians have long borne the brunt of unending violence.
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Source:Africa Publicity
