Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on the Democratic Republic of Congo and Final Report of Experts on Kasai
Human Rights Council – 48th Session
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As Delivered by Patrick Elliot
Human Rights Officer
October 5, 2021
Thank you, Madame High Commissioner. We welcome the government’s commitment to respecting human rights. We acknowledge ongoing challenges, including human rights abuses by armed groups, but encourage further progress.
We call on the government to ensure free and fair elections are held on time in 2023.
We remain concerned by reports of ethnic violence in the Kasai region and in the country’s east. We urge the government to protect civilians, hold accountable those implicated in human rights violations and abuses, and engage local communities to diffuse tensions.
We urge the government to respect freedom of expression and condemn crackdowns on activist groups and media. Under the state of siege, journalists and human rights defenders are under grave threat.
We strongly condemn the killing of journalists, including Heritier Magayane in North Kivu and Mumbere Musavuli in Ituri, and call for transparent investigations into their deaths.
Our Question is: What steps would you recommend the government take to protect the right to freedom of expression and engage communities affected by violence? Thank you.