Recent events in the Democratic Republic of Congo are generating attention and concern, as the ASBL Les Amis de Nelson Mandela pour la Défense des Droits Humains is launching a crucial program entitled “Strengthening citizen vigilance, observation and documentation of human rights violations in the DRC”. This project targets seven strategic centers in the country, including Kinshasa, Matadi, Kikwit, Kisangani, Kindu, Buta and Isiro.
The ANMDH coordinator, Aaron Mukalengi, explained the importance of this program aimed at mobilizing young people to professionally document human rights violations and to conduct effective advocacy at the national and international levels. More than ever, it is essential that the Constitution be respected to preserve democratic gains in the DRC.
The concerns raised by the ANMDH concern the government’s possible attempts to amend the Constitution to allow the current president, Félix Tshisekedi, to run for a third term, in flagrant violation of the fundamental law. This move is seen as a political maneuver promoting corruption and impunity.
It is essential that Congolese citizens remain vigilant and actively engage with civil society to defend their rights and oppose any attempt to abusively amend the Constitution. The call launched by the ANMDH resonates as a rallying cry in defense of democracy and human rights in the DRC.
Founded in 1992 in Kisangani, the ANMDH has a long history of commitment to peace, education for democracy, defense of human rights and non-violent conflict resolution in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This civil society organization remains an essential pillar in the protection of fundamental freedoms and the promotion of justice and equity in the country.
Together, citizens and civil society actors must join forces to preserve the integrity of the Constitution and ensure respect for human rights in the DRC. The voice of citizen vigilance must resonate loud and clear, reminding the authorities of the duty to protect individual freedoms and the sacred nature of the supreme law of the country.