On August 2, the Congolese community around the world remembers the Congolese genocide on Memorial Day. This annual event aims to pay tribute to all the people who lost their lives during the conflicts in Congo. This year, to mark this sad occasion, images illustrating the atrocities suffered by our compatriots are exhibited in Goma, at the BDGL roundabout.
The importance of a commemorative day lies in the fact that it ensures that the history of the ongoing conflict is never forgotten. By honoring the victims, we remember what happened and work to achieve justice for those who suffered. Organizers of the event stress the importance of remembering the millions of people killed in Congo, including the Congolese themselves.
The choice of August 2 as the date of commemoration is significant. It marks the start of the Second Congo War in 1998, also known as the African World War. On that day, the Banyamulenge rebellion, known as the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD), attacked the city of Goma with support from Rwanda and Uganda. It marked the start of the deadliest conflict since World War II.
More than 6 million people lost their lives and millions of Congolese were victims of rape, mutilation and other forms of violence. Although the war officially ended in 2003, Congolese continue to be killed, kidnapped and raped by militias in the east of the country.
The Congolese genocide is defined by international law as a series of acts committed with the aim of destroying all or part of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. The systematic rape of Congolese women and children, mass murder of civilians and other atrocities committed against the population of eastern Congo with the aim of exploiting natural resources constitute genocide. Unfortunately, the international community has often turned a blind eye to the plight of the Congolese people, making commemoration and the search for justice even more important.
Congolese Genocide Memorial Day is an opportunity for the Congolese community, both in Congo and in the diaspora, to recognize the atrocities committed, pay tribute to the lives lost and work together to find solutions to achieve justice and peace. sustainable in Congo. It is a constant reminder of the importance of never forgetting and continuing to fight for truth and justice.
By exposing the shocking images of atrocities committed, we hope to raise global awareness of the situation in Congo and put pressure on the international community to take concrete steps to end the violence and genocide taking place in our country. country.
Congolese Genocide Memorial Day is a reminder of our collective responsibility to never forget the suffering suffered by our people and to continue to fight for a future of peace and justice for all Congolese.