**Fatshimétrie: Alarming wave of arrests of displaced persons in Goma, Nyiragongo, Lubero and Beni**
The collective of lawyers committed to defending the rights of displaced persons recently revealed alarming figures concerning the mass arrests of this vulnerable population between January and July 2024. The cities of Goma, Nyiragongo, Lubero and Beni were the scene of more than 250 cases of arrests, raising serious concerns about the safety and respect for the fundamental rights of these individuals already tested by the horrors of the conflict.
The observation is unequivocal: hundreds of displaced persons are currently detained in precarious conditions, often without valid identity documents, and are the subject of unfounded accusations of collaboration with rebel groups such as the M23. However, these people fleeing the violence and abuses suffered in their regions of origin should benefit from special protection and assistance.
Faced with this critical situation, a small but dedicated number of lawyers mobilized to assert the rights of these displaced persons and obtain their release. Thanks to joint actions with civil society actors, several people were able to regain their freedom after unjust and arbitrary arrests.
Maître Frank Bisika, a distinguished lawyer based in Goma, testifies to the scale of the crisis: “Of the 256 cases of arrest recorded in the region, we were able to obtain the release of 187 people thanks to our efforts. But these figures do not reflect the entire situation, because similar cases have been reported in other localities such as Lubero, Beni and Butembo. The lack of identity papers has become a real source of anxiety for many displaced persons who find themselves unjustly stigmatized.”
To address this worrying situation, Maître Bisika encourages local authorities and those in charge of displaced persons camps to facilitate administrative procedures aimed at providing the individuals concerned with temporary certificates of loss of identity documents, while waiting to obtain new official documents. This free legal assistance offered to victims is an important first step towards the protection of the rights and social rehabilitation of these people in distress.
Ultimately, Fatshimétrie reveals a shocking reality: dozens of displaced persons find themselves doubly victims, first of the unrest that forced them to flee their homes, then of the injustices inflicted by a system that should protect them. It is urgent to act collectively to put an end to these abusive practices and work towards true inclusion and dignity for all displaced persons in the Goma region and its surroundings.