By Bayram Altug</p> <p>GENEVA (AA) – The killings of last December in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may amount crimes against humanity, the UN reported on Tuesday.</p> <p>Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN Human Rights Office, told reporters at the UN Geneva office that violence could outburst again at any time.</p> <p>In January, the UN reported that at least 890 people died due to ethnic clashes between Banunu and Batende tribes from Dec. 16 to 18. </p> <p>According to the UN investigation carried out in the villages of Yumbi region in the Mai-Ndombe province, west of the country, some 535 women, children, and men are verified to be killed in the clashes between Banunu and Batende tribes.</p> <p>The death toll is estimated to rise since all areas of the clash are not covered in the investigation. </p> <p>Crimes against humanity could have been committed under the direction of tribal chiefs, the spokesperson said.</p> <p>Shamdasani also noted that most buildings, houses, churches, schools, and health institutions were destroyed or plundered.</p> <p>More than 19,000 people were also reported to have been displaced due to the conflicts.
The violence broke out upon disputes over the burial of a Banunu tribe traditional chief.
*Writing by Munira Abdelmenan Awel
