The Justin Bitakwira affair and his controversial remarks against the Tutsi community have caused a lot of ink to flow in recent days. The former Congolese minister for rural development provoked strong reactions following his intervention during a television program in Kinshasa.
Bitakwira’s remarks were considered stigmatizing and tribal in nature, which led to his hearing at the General Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Cassation. The accusation relates to the fact that he allegedly made speeches inciting hatred towards the Congolese Tutsi community.
Bitakwira defends himself by claiming to have only commented on a book entitled “Holocaust in Congo” by Charles Onana. According to him, he simply paraphrased the elements mentioned in this book. He also asks the investigators to read this book in order to have a common understanding.
However, the controversy does not end there. Ambassador Jean-Marc Châtaigner reacted to these comments by calling them obscene. He considers that Bitakwira made hateful accusations against indigenous peoples and the Congolese Tutsi community. For him, this is a recurrence that deserves collective attention.
Bitakwira, for his part, denounces a form of colonization and accuses the European Union of being complicit in the misfortunes that are affecting the DRC. According to him, the interference of the ambassador and the injunctions made to members of the government represent a danger for the country.
The whole affair has also prompted a reaction from the Bashi-Bahavu community, which feels touched by Bitakwira’s words. They demand an apology from him and threaten to take legal action to protect their honor and people from hate messages.
This situation highlights the ethnic and political tensions that persist in the DRC. The use of inflammatory and stigmatizing speeches can have serious consequences on social cohesion and the stability of the country.
It is important that justice does its job to understand the facts and take the necessary measures. It is also essential that political and social actors engage in a constructive dialogue in order to promote tolerance, unity and respect for the rights of every community in the DRC.
The resolution of this type of conflict must go through a collective awareness and an effort of national reconciliation. The DRC needs responsible leaders who work for the common interest and harmony between the different communities that make it up.