The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is “deeply concerned” about the growing political crisis and abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda © 2015 Reuters

In a statement on Monday, Fatou Bensouda said the violence in September “could constitute crimes within the jurisdiction” of the ICC. She has sent a delegation to Congo to call for restraint by all sides, asking “supporters, sympathizers and agents” to refrain from violence.

Bensouda also said that her office is “closely monitoring the situation on the ground” in Congo, and “that any person who commits, orders, incites, encourages, or contributes in any other way to, the commission of crimes under the jurisdiction of the Court is liable to prosecution.” The ICC mission to Congo follows a strong statement of concern from Bensouda’s office on September 23, 2016.

Human Rights Watch research showed that security forces used excessive force against protesters in Kinshasa in September, killing at least 56 people. The bodies of many of the victims were taken away by security forces; some were dumped into the Congo River and later found washed up on its shores. Security forces burned three opposition party headquarters, detained at least eight journalists and two human rights activists, and arrested scores of other youth, many of whom appear to have been targeted at random.

Some of the protesters in Kinshasa also turned violent, beating or burning to death at least three police officers and one civilian. They also burned and looted places seen as being close to or representative of President Joseph Kabila and his government. Police officers and members of youth leagues mobilized by ruling party officials and security force officers were also involved in the looting and violence.

In addition to monitoring political violence, the ICC prosecutor’s office should collect information to determine whether an ICC investigation into alleged crimes in the Beni area in eastern Congo is warranted. Unidentified fighters have killed nearly 700 civilians in Beni in a series of massacres that began two years ago.

The ICC opened an investigation in Congo in June 2004, and has jurisdiction over serious international crimes committed there. The ICC can step in when national courts are unwilling or unable to prosecute grave crimes in violation of international law.