DRC Criticizes Global Lukewarm Attitude to
Genocide in Congo

By: Michael Mike

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has criticized the seemingly lukewarm attitude of civilized world to the genocide
perpetuated on its soil by neighbouring countries pillaging Congolese natural resources.

Speaking during the Commemoration of GENOCOST at the Triumphant Church, Gishiri, Abuja, the DRC Ambassador to Nigeria, Pascaline Gerengbo Yakivu explained that: “The Congolese Government, referring to Law Number 22/065 of December 26, 2022, establishing the fundamental principles relating to the protection and reparation of victims of conflict-related to sexual violence and other crimes against peace and security, crimes against humanity, has established a National Day of Tribute to the aforementioned Victims and to the people who provided them with relief and assistance. This day, celebrated on August 2 of each year, is called GENOCOST, which means Genocide for Economic Purposes.”

She noted that August 2 was chosen for the commemoration because August 2, 1998, marked the beginning of the long, arduous march with multiple forms of suffering for the Congolese people, culminating in the clashes between the Ugandan and Rwandan armies on Congolese soil in Kisangani.

The Ambassador while lamenting that every day, peaceful citizens are forced to flee their homes to take refuge in the bush, far from their natural environments, lacking everything, dying of hunger and diseases caused by their wandering situation, said that international community needs to take urgent action to stop the crisis.

She decried that: “They have not harmed anyone; they suffer all these horrors of war just because they are Congolese. All this, in the total indifference of other countries and the international community, even though they are praised as civilized nations.

“The armies of these neighbouring countries that continue to cause death and desolation to all these innocent and peaceful citizens are, however, known, and for nearly three decades, these foreign armies, particularly that of Rwanda, have been supporting the M23/AFC terrorist groups that are conducting operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, occupying large territories for false reasons, raping, killing, and plundering our natural resources from the Eastern part of the country. If nothing is done, the populations of this part of our territory are going to be exterminated or flee far from their native lands because it is a situation that best suits these predatory states.”

She further decried that: “Today, while we commemorate this genocide of the Congolese, a large part of our territory is occupied, causing more than 7 million internally displaced people.”

The envoy said: “All the research carried out by our state institutions and by credible foreign organisations on the numerous deaths caused by incursions and occupations by foreign armies, attest that more than 10 million deaths have been caused by this situation, and more recently, in Komada in Ituri Province, during a Catholic church service, congregants were murdered by RDF armed groups. How long will these massacres of Congolese people continue?”

She said: “Imagine what 10 million deaths represent? We have countries both here in Africa and in other continents whose entire populations do not exceed 10 million inhabitants.”

The envoy said: “The awareness of the sons and daughters of the DRC has awakened them to demand reparations for the damages suffered and to denounce the hypocrisy of the international community.

“The DRC seized this opportuned moment, with the publication of the various documented UN reports, to ensure that sanctions against the perpetrators of this genocide could be taken by the appropriate international bodies in order to restore peace in the region, with a view to alleviating the suffering of our victim populations.

“It is time for the international community to gather the courage it takes to recognize this genocide which is at the same level of other known ones around the world.

“This is how the collective memory of the Congolese victims will be honoured and recognised by the International Community.”

DRC Criticizes Global Lukewarm Attitude to
Genocide in Congo