The UN Human Rights Council appointed three experts Monday to investigate alleged violations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Swiss ambassador Jurg Lauber named Arnauld Akodjenou of Benin to lead the probe into South and North Kivu provinces.
He will be joined by international criminal prosecutors Maxine Marcus of Germany-US and Clement Nyaletsossi Voule of Togo. Eastern DRC, rich in minerals, has endured three decades of conflict, with violence surging sharply since 2021.
The resurgence of the anti-government M23 group, allegedly backed by Rwanda, has fuelled major clashes and territorial seizures. M23 captured Goma in January and Bukavu in February, displacing hundreds of thousands and causing thousands of deaths.
The UN demanded a Commission of Inquiry in February to investigate all alleged human rights abuses and violations. The body also called for identification of perpetrators, including those responsible for potential international crimes, ensuring accountability.
Budget shortfalls delayed the commission’s creation, raising fears the investigation would never begin amid global funding cuts. Recent UN resolutions reaffirmed the council’s commitment to fund and appoint investigators by year-end, despite prior financial obstacles.
Investigators are expected to make their first field visit by January 2026 and submit their initial report in early 2027. The appointment marks a critical step in shedding light on eastern DRC’s enduring turmoil and the human cost of conflict.