Democratic Republic of Congo arrests group over child rape

A mass rape victim and her son in the town of Fizi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. Her identity has been concealed for security reasons and because rape carries strong social stigma. She was among nearly fifty women who were raped during a campaign by Congolese soldiers that took place on the night of January 1st 2011. Her son suffered a head wound (pictured here) when soldiers threw him to the ground prior to the rape. Eleven soldiers from the accused unit are being tried in a military tribunal during which they face charges of crimes against humanity and rape. The trail is the first of its kind in which a ranking officer, Lt. Col. Kebibi Mutware, has faced such significant charges. Mass rape has long been used as a weapon of war in eastern DRC. (AP Photo/Pete Muller)

The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have arrested 75 suspected militiamen for murder and rape in the province of South Kivu.

They are accused of targeting very young girls, reportedly associating them with supernatural protection.

Those detained include the group's alleged leader, Frederic Batumike, who is a provincial deputy.

Most of DR Congo has recovered from nearly a decade of war but rebel violence continues in eastern areas.

Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba said Mr Batumike and 74 of his fighters had been arrested last week for repeated rapes of about 30 very young girls near the village of Kavumu.

"The militia that works for him recruited a fetishist who advises the militiamen to rape very young girls to be assured of having supernatural protection," Mr Thambwe said.

The justice minister also said Mr Batumike was accused of ordering the killing of a German engineer, Walter Muller, and a Congolese human rights activist named as Evariste Kasali.

The director of the UN human rights office in the DRC, Jose Maria Aranaz, applauded the arrests.

"We welcome the authorities' action to put an end to these horrible practices and bring those responsible to justice," he said.

Some five million lives were lost in DR Congo's conflict between 1994 and 2003.