Metro

49 bodies of civilians found in mass graves in DR Congo

Published

1 year ago

January 19, 2023

Mass graves holding over 49 bodies believed to have been killed by armed militants were, on Wednesday, discovered by peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a statement by the UN peacekeeping mission in the country said on Thursday.

Deputy spokesperson for the United Nations, Farhan Haq, told reporters in New York that the graves were uncovered in two villages in northeastern Ituri province, about 30km (19 miles) east of the town of Bunia.

“A total of 42 victims, including six children, were discovered in a mass grave in the village of Nyamamba, while the bodies of seven other men were found in another village, Mbogi, Haq said.

“Peacekeepers launched a patrol to the area immediately after receiving reports of attacks on civilians by the CODECO militias over the weekend. This is when they made the gruesome discoveries,” he said.

Haq said the UN has called for an investigation that would establish whether the mass graves and the attacks were linked, adding that the UN regional peacekeeping operation, MONUSCO, was “supporting the Congolese judicial system to investigate the attacks” and called “for the perpetrators to be brought to justice”.

Ituri has been a restive province in the DRC which borders Uganda where the CODECO armed group (Cooperative for the Development of Congo), operates from.

The region, according to the UN, has seen a spate of violence in recent weeks after the killing of a teacher belonging to the Lendu community triggered reprisal attacks from CODECO, which claims to represent the Lendu ethnic group.

CODECO blamed the teacher’s death on a rival militia called Zaire, which claims to represent the Hema ethnic group.

The Lendu and Hema communities have a longstanding feud which has led to thousands of deaths between 1999 and 2003 before an intervention by a European peacekeeping force.

Related Topics:Attacks Democratic Republic of Congo Featured Mass Graves Militia

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Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda

Published

7 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

“As a representative of the deaf community, I believe digital rights should be inclusive. Everyone, including persons with disabilities, should enjoy these rights through various devices to express themselves and participate in national discourse,” he asserted.

He also called for the recognition of sign language as the eighth national language, aligning with United Nations conventions that mandate sign language interpreters at all events to promote inclusivity.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda (video)

Published

9 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.