The fight against the impunity of armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues. The governor of Ituri, Johnny Luboya N’kashama, took advantage of the visit of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, to issue an ultimatum to the armed groups which are rampant in his territory. He said that any group that does not stop committing violence against the population will face national and international justice.
The message is clear: ending impunity and the violation of human rights is a priority in the DRC. The military governor of Ituri has also offered an opportunity for armed groups to join the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization (P-DDRCS) program to avoid prosecution.
This visit by the ICC prosecutor is a strong message addressed to all the executioners who think they are free by committing crimes against civilian populations. Military operations will resume for groups that do not want to stop, who think they are on ground where they cannot be reached.
The DRC is stepping up its efforts to put an end to this impunity. This new stage in the fight against armed groups is encouraging for the population of Ituri and for the DRC in general.