DR Congo elected to UN rights body, Britain and US not happy.

DR Congo is beset by renewed political and militia violence since President Joseph Kabila refused to step down in December 2016. PHOTO | PHILL MAGAKOE | AFP  
 

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Democratic Republic of Congo was among 15 countries elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for a three-year term on Monday, a moved criticised by Britain, the United States and rights groups after the vote by the 193-member General Assembly.

While Congo was elected uncontested to the 47-member Geneva-based council, it still needed majority support. The country - beset by renewed political and militia violence since President Joseph Kabila refused to step down in December - won 151 votes.

“Political repression, civilian attacks, mass graves. What happened in DRC last year makes their election to the Human Rights council entirely disappointing,” British UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft posted on Twitter.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who has called for the Human Rights Council votes to be competitive, said Congo’s election harmed the credibility of the body.

“Countries that aggressively violate human rights at home should not be in a position to guard the human rights of others,” Haley said in a statement.

The violence in eastern and central Congo has displaced over 1.5 million in the past year and revived fears of civil war in a country where conflicts from 1996-2003 resulted in millions of deaths and spawned dozens of armed groups that prey on local populations and exploit natural resources.