New mass graves find in DRC – OHCHR’s Liz Throssell

Seventeen new mass graves have been found in an area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that’s seen months of clashes between government soldiers and local militia, the UN said this week. In a call for an independent investigation, the UN Human Rights Office, OHCHR, said that DRC troops were reportedly responsible, after clashes with Kamuina Nsapu members in central Kasai province in late March, which claimed at least 74 civilian lives. The development comes amid ongoing uncertainty linked to President Joseph Kabila, whose second term in office officially ended last December. Here’s OHCHR spokesperson Liz Throssell speaking to Daniel Johnson.

Rape chants lay bare Burundi terror campaign: UN human rights chief

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed deep alarm at a widespread pattern at rallies in Burundi where members of the ruling party’s youth wing, chant about impregnating and killing their opponents. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said that the organized nature of the rallies and rights violations, laid bare a “campaign of terror” being waged in the African country. Meanwhile, a video has been circulating on social media showing more than 100 members of the Imbonerakure youth militia repeating similar slogans. Communal strife erupted after President Pierre Nkurunziza won a controversial third term in office in 2015. Matthew Wells asked Scott Campbell of the UN Human Rights Office OHCHR, to explain who the militia members are.

Disease, hunger forcing families to flee drought in Somalia

Disease, hunger and drought are forcing families in southern Somalia’s Bay region to leave their homes in search of help, the UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, has said. Since March 2017, more than 100,000 drought-displaced people have arrived in the region’s capital, Baidoa, from neighbouring areas. Some 6.2 million people – half of the country’s population – need humanitarian aid to survive. Jocelyne Sambira has the story.

Presenter: Ana Carmo

Production Assistant: Sandra Guy

Duration: 10'00″