The Democratic Republic of Congo has issued a powerful condemnation against the international community’s alarming silence concerning an ongoing genocide in its eastern territories, a brutal conflict fueled by rampant resource exploitation and external intervention.
This critical issue was brought to the forefront during the solemn Commemoration of GENOCOST in Abuja, Nigeria, where the DRC Ambassador, Pascaline Gerengbo Yakivu, passionately articulated her nation’s anguish. She highlighted Law Number 22/065, enacted on December 26, 2022, which established August 2nd as GENOCOST, a National Day of Tribute to victims of economic-purpose genocide and those who provided relief.
Ambassador Yakivu lamented the daily horror faced by peaceful Congolese citizens, forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge in harsh, unfamiliar bush environments. These internally displaced populations endure unimaginable suffering, deprived of basic necessities, succumbing to hunger and diseases directly caused by their precarious wandering existence.
The Ambassador decried the world’s stark indifference, despite the clear identification of the aggressors. For nearly three decades, foreign armies, particularly that of Rwanda, have openly supported M23/AFC terrorist groups. These entities are actively perpetrating atrocities within the Democratic Republic of Congo, occupying vast territories under false pretenses.
The M23/AFC groups are notorious for systematic human rights abuses, including widespread rape, killings, and the brazen plundering of the DRC’s immense natural resources from its eastern regions. This sustained aggression highlights a devastating link between conflict and economic greed, where the lives of innocent civilians are sacrificed for illicit gains.
A dire warning was issued: without urgent international intervention, the populations in these besieged territories face either complete extermination or forced exodus from their ancestral lands. This catastrophic scenario, she asserted, perfectly suits the predatory states benefiting from the chaos and exploitation.
Currently, as this genocide continues, a significant portion of Congolese territory remains under occupation, resulting in a staggering count of over 7 million internally displaced persons. This massive humanitarian crisis underscores the urgent need for global recognition and decisive action.
In response to this protracted suffering and global neglect, the Congolese people have awakened, demanding justice and reparations for the immense damages incurred. The DRC has leveraged thoroughly documented UN reports to press for international sanctions against the perpetrators, aiming to restore peace and alleviate the profound suffering of its victimized populations.
The time has come, the Ambassador stressed, for the international community to demonstrate the courage required to acknowledge this genocide, recognizing its equivalence to other known genocides in human history and fulfilling its moral obligation to protect vulnerable populations.
