The tragic event of the Congolese genocide which occurred in August 1998 continues to mark deeply the history and the collective memory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To commemorate this dark period, opponent Martin Fayulu recently denounced the culpable indifference of the international community to the atrocities committed by Paul Kagame’s regime.
According to Martin Fayulu, the Congolese genocide constitutes the greatest human tragedy that black Africa has known, after the horrors of the slave trade and the tragedy of colonization. More than ten million Congolese have been victims of murder, rape, mutilation and torture, in atrocious conditions. The leader of ECiDé qualifies these acts of intentional genocide, underlining the shocking declarations of the Rwandan president who justifies the war of extermination of the Congolese people by affirming that a part of Rwanda was given to Congo.
Martin Fayulu insists on the importance of never forgetting these terrible events. The Congolese, from all regions of the country, are committed to transmitting the memory of this genocide from generation to generation. They pledge to testify, to teach this history to their children and to raise awareness about the atrocities committed by the Rwandan military and their M23 allies.
Despite the fact that the Congolese genocide has not yet been recognized by the international community, the Congolese continue to celebrate this day of commemoration initiated by civil society organizations. Martin Fayulu recalls that article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide defines genocide not only as mass killings and murders, but also as a deliberate and planned will to eradicate a group with its history, culture and traditions.
August 2, 1998 marked the beginning of the rebellion against former President Laurent-Désiré Kabila, supported by Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. This second Congo war led to numerous massacres and human rights violations, leaving deep scars in Congolese society.
It is essential not to let the victims of this terrible genocide fall into oblivion. The annual commemoration of this day is an act of patriotic courage, aimed at having the genocide of the Congolese people recognized throughout the world and at refusing to allow time to erase the memory of these victims.
In conclusion, the opponent Martin Fayulu recalls with emotion the scale of the atrocities committed during the Congolese genocide and calls for the awareness of the international community. It is essential to remember these tragic events, to teach them to future generations and to fight so that such acts of violence do not happen again