Fatshimetry
Recent events in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo raise serious concerns about the activities of self-defense groups, such as the Wazalendo, who appear to be engaging in abuses against the local population. These groups, supposed to ensure the safety of residents, find themselves accused of reprehensible acts ranging from arbitrary detentions to the exercise of parallel justice.
In Masisi territory, the Wazalendo are singled out for their authoritarian methods. Local testimonies denounce arbitrary arrests and illegal detentions in clandestine dungeons. A Wazalendo leader, posing as a prosecutor, abuses his power by issuing arrest warrants and incarcerating individuals at will.
Furthermore, in Nyabiondo, the People’s Alliance for a Free and Sovereign Congo (APCLS) is accused of detaining people in inhumane conditions. A Masisi legal defender finds himself imprisoned on dubious charges, while the armed group organizes parallel justice with its own prosecutor issuing arrest warrants in the name of the movement.
Legal and judicial standards are flouted, and the population is subjected to exorbitant fines in exchange for their release. Some individuals remain locked in unsanitary dungeons, victims of the tyranny imposed by these armed groups.
In Nyiragongo territory, the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP) are also singled out for similar practices. Despite the efforts of the military authorities to put an end to these abuses by dismantling certain VDP dungeons and camps, many villagers remain exposed to this violence.
Faced with this worrying situation, the provincial governor warned the leaders of armed groups against any violation of human rights committed by their troops. It is imperative to guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of the population and to put an end to the impunity of self-defense groups which act outside any legal framework.
It is essential to address the root of the problem by strengthening the rule of law and ensuring fair justice for all. The Congolese population deserves the protection of their authorities and the guarantee of their fundamental rights, far from the abuses perpetrated by self-defense groups acting with complete impunity.