Congo soldiers kill scores during militia clashes: UN

At least 100 people have been killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo by soldiers in the past five days.

According to the UN, the soldiers targeting a local militia group in the central part of the country, fired indiscriminately at members of the Kamwina Nsapu group

Elizabeth Throssell a spokeswoman for the UN office of the high commissioner for human rights said, “According to information from several sources, FARDC soldiers opened fire indiscriminately with machine guns when they saw the militia fighters who were armed mainly with machetes and spears. Some 39 women are reported to have been caught in the fire and are among the dead. We are deeply concerned at the reported high number of deaths, which, if confirmed, would suggest excessive and disproportionate use of force by the soldiers.”

Hundreds of people have died in recent months in fighting between security forces and the militia, whose leader died in August.

Meanwhile, police in the capital Kinshasa launched an assault on residence of a separatist religious sect leader who had called on the population to drive out President Joseph Kabila.

“Hyppolite Kanambe [referring to Democratic Republic of Congo President, Joseph Kabila] is Rwandan. Would they accept that a Congolese become presiden t in Rwanda? Therefore, my first command is: Hyppolite Kanambe get out. I no longer want to see Hyppolite Kanambe in this country. Drive Hyppolite Kanambe out. That is the command that I give to the Congolese people. Drive out all the Rwandans…That is my command that I give to the Congolese people,” said Ne Muansa Nsemi, leader of the Bundu Dia Kongo Separatist religious sect.

Analysts believe militia violence in Congo has been aggravated due to the country’s political stalemate.

Reuters_