The population of South Kivu is demanding justice for the massacres committed in the province over the past twenty years. During a collective mourning organized on the occasion of the day of the genocide in the DRC, residents expressed their demand for reparation for the victims and the prosecution of the perpetrators of these crimes.
This collective mourning, initiated by the Congolese Coalition for Transitional Justice (CCJT), aims to highlight the injustices suffered by the populations of South Kivu and to ensure that such massacres do not happen again. Nene Bintu, vice-president of the civil society coordination office, highlights the importance of redress:
“We managed to obtain a law on reparations, promulgated by the head of state last year. This law provides for the celebration of the genocide for economic gains. However, not all victims have yet obtained reparations. Our cry today is to see this law applied effectively to ensure this repair.”
This collective mourning pays tribute to the victims of the massacres of Kasika, Mutarule, Kavumu, Makobola and others. Sociologist Phillipe Kaganda explains the importance of this commemoration:
“The designation of August 2 by the Head of State as a day of commemoration of our martyrs is very significant. It is a way of reconnecting with our history, a painful history. And it also allows us to project ourselves towards the future. future. This moment of mourning is particularly important for South Kivu, for the eastern part of the DRC and for the whole country.”
Movements of young people, women and journalists participated in this collective mourning in Bukavu. The end of mourning is expected in a week.
The demand for justice for the massacres committed in South Kivu is a poignant reminder of the suffering endured by the population of this region. It is essential that the perpetrators of these crimes are prosecuted and that the victims finally obtain redress. This demand for justice is also a desire to prevent new massacres in the future and to ensure security and peace in the South Kivu region and throughout the DRC.