The ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of...

The ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has had "a major impact on the human rights situation in the country", with torture reported in government-as well as rebel-held areas, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, said in her latest report, released on October 30.
In government-controlled areas of the DRC, the High Commissioner's office "received reports of summary or extrajudicial executions, prolonged arbitrary detention and torture". The High Commissioner "expressed particular concern" about the trial of 80 individuals before a military court in Likasi, Katanga province in late August/early September.
"According to reports, most of the defendants were held incommunicado and were subjected to torture," Robinson said. "The trial took place in Likasi, located about 2,000 km from Kinshasa, although the crimes were allegedly committed in Kinshasa. This had apparently affected the defendants' ability to call witnesses .... Credible sources reported that eight individuals were sentenced to death."
However, Robinson acknowledged positive initiatives undertaken by the government of President Joseph Kabila: a declared moratorium on the death penalty, the inter-Congolese peace and reconciliation dialogue, and a national conference to develop a human rights agenda.