The brutal repression of the march of the opposition and civil organizations in the DRC was denounced by the Laïc Coordination Committee (CLC) in a press release published on 29 May. The CLC called the images of this crackdown “shocking and unsustainable”, highlighting the barbaric practices of some members of the security forces.
Groups of youths, dubbed ‘forces for progress’ and belonging to the ruling UDPS party, were filmed brandishing machetes alongside police, heightening accusations by secular Catholics against the party in power.
The CLC strongly deplored the inaction of Congolese justice in the face of this dangerous drift, noting a worrying preference for those in power and a very severe justice towards members of the opposition.
This inertia, according to the CLC, has now allowed the spread of hatred and tribal discourse, threatening the fundamentals of national unity and respect for republican principles.
It is therefore urgent to put an end to this impunity and to severely sanction anyone who tries to confiscate the sovereignty of the Congolese people for their own interests.
With this in mind, the CLC plans to submit to the ICC a detailed file of the risks of crimes against humanity in order to make its voice heard internationally and to fight against the usurpation of the rights of the Congolese people.
This situation only serves as a reminder of the importance of transitional justice in the DRC and of the need to put an end to sexual violence in certain regions of the country. Through actions such as the establishment of an African foundation for pharmaceutical technology, access to drinking water, or even the securing of the east of the country, it is possible to rebuild a country more oriented towards the future and benefiting from the rights due to it