(New York) - In a letter to President Museveni of Uganda released today, Human Rights Watch condemned the resurgence of inter-ethnic violence in Ugandan-controlled areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The violence is occurring between opposing members of the Congolese Hema and Lendu tribes, and civilian casualties are mounting. Recent disputes among the leaders of the Ugandan-backed rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy ?Liberation Movement (RCD-ML) which claims nominal control over the area, have triggered a mutiny of the military wing of the movement, and are exacerbating ethnic tensions in the region.
Human Rights Watch strongly urged the Ugandan government and its local allies of the RCD-ML to issue clear instructions to their paramilitary forces to respect international humanitarian law, and punish violators. The international monitoring group also called for unrestricted access and safe passage for humanitarian agencies who are trying to assist victims displaced by war, and to stop the recruitment of child soldiers in the Congo.
