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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman
March 4, 1999

Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The already poor human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo worsened following the outbreak of war last August. The State Department's recently released human rights report cites serious human rights violations committed by both sides in the war.

Government security forces are responsible for numerous extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture, beatings, rapes and other abuses. Many of the abuses have been directed at ethnic Tutsis.

Rebel forces have also committed extrajudicial killings. There are credible reports that they massacred hundreds of civilians in the town of Kasika in August and the town of Makabola over the New Year's weekend. They were responsible for disappearances and they reportedly tortured, raped and detained many civilians.

Other independent groups such as Human Rights Watch have also documented the numerous and serious human rights abuses associated with the conflict.

The Department of State welcomes the recent visit to the Congo of United Nations Special Rapporteur Roberto Garreton and supports his efforts to report on human rights.

The Department of State condemns all human rights violations, regardless of who commits them. We reiterate our call on all parties to the conflict to ensure the safety and human rights of all non-combatants, respect the Geneva Convention regarding prisoners of war, and to hold accountable those responsible for abuses.

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