About 900 people killed in DRC violence last month: UN

United Nations human rights office said Wednesday about nine hundred people were killed in the northwestern part of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in December due to ethnic violence.

Earlier this week a civil society activist and local priest said more than four hundred people were killed last month, during presidential election, in bloodshed.

UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said, “I have to emphasize that 890 is the number of people we know were actually buried.”

She added more people may have been killed and the bodies were dumped in the Congo River.

According to UN human rights it is alleged more than 890 people were killed in four villages in Yumbi territory, Mai-Ndombe province, between 16 and 18 December in clashes between the Banunu and Batende communities.

The statement added more than 400 houses, buildings, schools, offices, market and health centre were either burned or pillaged during the presidential election campaign.

During the December 30 presidential elections voting was cancelled in three cities due to violence.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said, “It is crucial that this shocking violence be promptly, thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators be brought to justice.”

Meanwhile, the human rights office confirmed to have launched an investigation and probe is also being conducted by national judicial authorities.