DR Congo crisis: Death toll from Goma takeover hits 700 - UN

At least 700 people have been killed since Sunday in intense fighting in Goma, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province, a UN spokesman said Friday.

"The World Health Organization and its partners conducted an assessment with the government" between Sunday and Thursday, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief, adding that the death toll is likely to increase but for the moment "700 people have been killed and 2,800 people injured."

The UN also expressed concerns over executions it learned were carried out by the rebels in recent days following a major escalation of their yearslong rebellion.

UN human rights office spokesman Jeremy Laurence spoke at a briefing on Friday about the worsening human rights crisis in the aftermath of the rebellion, including bomb strikes on at least two internally displaced persons camps that killed an unspecified number of people.

New governor

“We have also documented summary executions of at least 12 people by M23" from January 26-28, Laurence said, adding that the group has also occupied schools and hospitals in the province and are subjecting civilians to forced conscription and forced labor.

As he took office on Friday as the new governor of North Kivu, which includes Goma, Major General Somo Kakule Evariste vowed to “move as soon as possible” to Goma to restore government control.

“This is not the time for speeches,” the general said. “The flame of resistance will never be extinguished.”

➤Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel for more stories.