UN rights chief warns Congo to pull back from brink

September 22, 2016 9:50 AM

“Some civilians were killed by gunshots to the head or chest, and I strongly condemn the clearly excessive use of force by defense and security forces against demonstrators in the capital,"

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein attends the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council at the U.N. European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, September 13, 2016.

Congolese authorities are risking a large-scale crisis by escalating political violence, in which defence and security forces have shot civilian protestors dead in Kinshasa, U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said on Thursday.

“The writing is on the wall, and the authorities need to pull back from their extremely confrontational position and build bridges with the opposition,” Zeid said in a statement.

“Some civilians were killed by gunshots to the head or chest, and I strongly condemn the clearly excessive use of force by defense and security forces against demonstrators in the capital," he said, adding that at least 50 people were killed in clashes this week.