WASHINGTON, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - The United States calls for a thorough investigation into Congolese security forces violations amid the expulsion of the Director of the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), US State Department press-release said.
“We urge the DRC Government to investigate the allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances by some members of its security forces highlighted in the UNJHRO report and to hold those responsible to account,” the Monday press-release reads.
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) is specifically mandated by the UN Security Council to prepare regular reports on the status of human rights in the Congolese National Police (PNC).
“As a result of human rights investigations carried out since mid-November 2013 and on the basis of information corroborated during these investigations, the UNJHRO is able to confirm that Operation Likofi resulted in at least 41 male victims. Among the 41 victims, 9 were summarily executed and 32 forcibly disappeared. These violations were allegedly committed by PNC agents,” the MONUSCO report reads.
The Democratic Republic of Congo ordered to expel Campbell, director of the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office in DRC, on October 16. The expulsion followed the release of the UN report on Operation Likofi that was set up to combat criminal delinquency in Kinshasa and took place from November 15, 2013 to February 15, 2014.