The discovery of nearly 3,000 bodies in Goma following the February 4 ceasefire by the M23 armed group has raised grave concerns about potential crimes against civilians. Many of the bodies were found on the streets and in Lake Kivu, underscoring the devastating toll of the recent violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 939 deaths in Goma’s hospitals as of February 11, with many bodies still awaiting burial. Despite calls for proper forensic examination, over 2,000 bodies have already been buried without identification, prompting outcry from human rights advocates and legal experts.
In a joint statement, UN experts, including Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Bernard Duhaime, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence; Nazila Ghanea, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; Paula Gaviria Betancur, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, have stressed the necessity of forensic documentation to identify victims, establish causes of death, and investigate potential unlawful killings, including extrajudicial executions. Proper documentation is crucial for ensuring legal accountability, justice, and reparations under international law.
“We are deeply concerned about the reported burial of over 2000 bodies without proper identification or documentation of the circumstances or causes of death, alongside an additional 900 bodies in overwhelmed mortuaries and hospitals,” the experts said.
“We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately take measures to ensure that the bodies of those who have been killed or died during armed confrontations are searched for, recovered, properly documented and identified, respectfully managed, and buried in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law provisions and guidelines,” they added.
However, the mass burials have sparked concerns over potential obfuscation of evidence. Authorities cite fears of disease spread as justification, yet health experts have clarified that bodies resulting from violence do not pose a public health risk. Hasty burials without forensic analysis risk erasing key evidence, further complicating efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
Families of the deceased are left in anguish, unable to confirm the fate of their loved ones. Under international human rights law, families have the right to know the truth about their relatives’ deaths, including the causes and circumstances.
Proper burial practices must also respect local traditions, allowing families to grieve and honor their dead with dignity. The indiscriminate disposal of bodies not only deepens trauma but also risks leaving thousands of missing persons cases unresolved.
Human rights organizations and UN experts are calling on all parties to the conflict to recover, document, and manage bodies respectfully, in line with international human rights and humanitarian law. They emphasize the importance of preserving dignity in death as a fundamental right, urging authorities to conduct proper forensic investigations and allow families to participate in the identification and burial of their loved ones.
Experts have offered advisory support to ensure compliance with international standards and to assist in holding those responsible for potential war crimes accountable. As families continue searching for answers, the world watches closely, demanding justice and the protection of human rights in the aftermath of this devastating conflict.
