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Even as Belgium and its former colony seek to resume long-severed relations, a scathing UN report on atrocities committed by DR Congo armed forces has put a spanner in the works, notes De Morgen. The report, to be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council on 18 March, confirms that members of the armed forces, the police and intelligence forces are responsible for “summary executions, sexual violence, torture and ill-treatment” and that the Congolese authorities are doing nothing about the situation, which is getting worse every year. The report comes shortly after King Albert II announced plans to fly down to attend the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the DR Congo’s independence (on 20 June) and the Belgian defence minister suggested inviting Congolese army brass to attend the Belgian national holiday festivities on 21 July.
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