For years, the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have witnessed horrific crimes perpetrated by armed groups and terrorists. The Congolese government has once again asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate crimes against humanity committed in these provinces. The ICC Prosecutor, Karim Khan, assigned the referral of this request to the Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber I with immediate effect.
In its referral, the Congolese government asks the ICC to investigate alleged crimes under the Rome Statute allegedly committed in North Kivu since January 1, 2022. This request is accompanied by additional documents and requests an investigation into particular armed forces and groups responsible for these crimes. The ICC Prosecutor, in charge of the case, will assess the correlation between the two reviews to establish a single situation.
Beyond this case, the DRC also filed a complaint last May against the Rwandan armed coalition-M23 for crimes committed in the east of the country. The ICC Prosecutor, during his last visit to the region, had called on the Court to show a firm will to put an end to these abuses.
The political situation in the DRC is even more tense with the return of Joseph Kabila to the political scene. And faced with the increase in urban crime in Beni, the safety of citizens is in danger. The floods in Dima Lumbu have also dealt a severe blow to the local population who find themselves abandoned to their fate.
Despite all this, the militant youth of the UNC remains determined to achieve its ambitious goal of electing 150 national deputies for the elections next December in the DRC. And the government is finally tackling the difficulties of business creation to allow local initiatives to develop.
In short, the situation in the DRC remains fragile, but initiatives led by committed citizens and the government offer hope for positive change.