The tragedy that occurred in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo two weeks ago continues to spark outrage and raise questions about the responsibility of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC). At least 51 civilians lost their lives during a violent intervention against a group of demonstrators from the Uwezo wa neno Mesiani/Wazalendo sect, who were protesting to demand the departure of MONUSCO and regional EAC forces.
The trial of six accused soldiers is currently underway at the North Kivu Military Court in Goma, but the search for responsibilities remains complex. Numerous witnesses identified the Republican Guard as the perpetrators of the killings.
At a recent hearing, Colonel Yves Rubenga, commander of the General Staff Headquarters at the 34th Military Region, testified openly accusing the Republican Guard. According to him, he was present at the scene of the tragedy and saw members of the GR take away radios and arrest Bisimwa, the leader of Wazalendo. Additionally, he claimed that the Republican Guard disarmed the soldiers he commanded before ordering them to shoot civilians.
For his part, Colonel Mike Mikombe, commander of the Republican Guard in Goma, justified his unit’s intervention by declaring that the demonstrators were linked to the M23 and represented a threat to the city.
Videos of the violence, widely shared on the Internet, showed members of the Republican Guard collecting the bodies of killed civilians and loading them into KAMAZ trucks. The bodies are currently kept in the morgues of Katindo Military Hospital, Provincial Hospital and CBCA/Ndosho Hospital, awaiting identification by the army and release to families for burial.
The expectation of justice is high in this case, the families of the victims are demanding that those responsible be brought to justice and that all light be shed on these unacceptable acts of violence.
However, it is important to emphasize that this case is only one example among others of the need for profound reform of the security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cases of violence against civilians and human rights violations unfortunately remain frequent, and it is essential to put in place mechanisms to prevent such acts and ensure accountability of perpetrators.
In conclusion, it is essential that justice does its work in a transparent and impartial manner within the framework of this trial in Goma. The testimonies of victims and witnesses must be taken into account rigorously in order to establish the truth and bring justice to the victims of this tragedy. It is also crucial to continue reforms to strengthen security forces and prevent such acts of violence in the future.