Fatshimetrie witnessed a significant event last weekend: Kinshasa obtained a new trial against Kigali before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in Arusha, Tanzania. This decision, announced by the Deputy Minister of Justice and International Litigation, Samuel Mbemba, at a press conference in Kinshasa, is of capital importance for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Samuel Mbemba, this trial, which will begin on February 12, 2025, represents a significant step forward in the fight for justice and recognition of the abuses committed against the DRC. He emphasizes that despite decades of aggression, pillaging and violence perpetrated by Rwanda, no judicial action of this magnitude had yet been undertaken. This new trial before the ACHPR thus marks a turning point in relations between the two countries and reinforces the DRC’s commitment to asserting its rights on the international stage.
This initiative is part of a series of actions undertaken by the Congolese Government to denounce the abuses and human rights violations committed on its territory. Last September, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of East African States (EAC) opened an investigation into the alleged atrocious acts committed by Rwanda in the DRC, confirming the DRC’s determination to obtain justice for the victims of these violations.
The mobilization of the Deputy Minister of Justice at the ACHPR and the advocacy of the Congolese delegation in Arusha demonstrate the DRC’s determination to prosecute those responsible for these acts and to have the suffering endured by its population recognized. This approach is part of the broader national campaign “ICC, Justice for the DRC” launched by the government, aimed at obtaining reparation and compensation for the crimes committed in the country.
Thus, the new trial before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights represents a crucial step in the DRC’s fight for truth, justice and reparation. He embodies the country’s determination to make its voice heard and to put an end to the impunity of those responsible for these heinous crimes. By bringing this case to the international stage, the DRC is sending a strong message: people’s rights must be respected and any violation must be punished.