The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and Mayi Mayi militias have been accused of committing serious atrocities against the civilian population in the Kivu region.
A terse statement from the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Åimonovic received exclusively by The New Times says, "The human rights situation in the DRC is of grave concern."
Åimonovic, who was speaking at the end of a nine-day visit to the country, declared he was " really appalled" by the heightened levels of recent violence triggered by defections in the Congolese armed forces, including former members of certain militia groups.