*Fatshimétrie*: Atrocities revealed in the Democratic Republic of Congo
In a recent report entitled “Operation Keba” and made public this Wednesday, December 11, the renowned NGO Amnesty International raised alarming accusations against senior Congolese army officials, implicated in alleged crimes against humanity during the repression of a demonstration in Goma, North Kivu, in August 2023.
The names of the incriminated officers resonate like sinister echoes: General Constant Ndima, the former provincial governor, Colonel Mike Mikombe Kalamba, former commander of the inter-army brigade of the Republican Guard in the North Kivu region, and Major Peter Kabwe Ngandu, former commander of the special forces in Goma.
These disturbing events took place during the deployment of security forces to suppress a demonstration that took place in Goma on 30 August 2023. The protesters, mainly members of a religious sect called “Natural Messianic Judaic Faith for the Nations” or “Wazalendo”, were demanding the departure of MONUSCO from the DRC. According to Amnesty International’s findings, at least 56 people lost their lives that day, and more than 80 others were injured, following the brutal intervention of Congolese security forces.
The NGO’s report highlights unacceptable acts of violence perpetrated against unarmed civilians, denouncing a “murderous madness” that led to a regrettable bloodbath. The gruesome and precise details provided by Amnesty International make it possible to pinpoint the time and place of the tragic events, formally incriminating the three officers mentioned for these reprehensible acts.
Faced with these shocking revelations, the NGO urges President Félix Tshisekedi to take immediate measures to suspend these officers and to launch investigations so that justice is done. It also calls for a thorough investigation into Colonel Mike Mikombe Kalamba, already convicted for his role in these killings, to ensure that full light is shed on this serious case.
The involvement of the Congolese army in human rights violations is a matter of deep concern and raises crucial questions about the protection of the fundamental rights of citizens in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Transparency, accountability and the fight against impunity are imperatives to ensure the preservation of peace and individual freedoms in the country.
This case revealed by Amnesty International resonates like a cry for help, a call to action so that justice is done for the innocent victims of this brutal repression in Goma. It is essential that light be shed on these tragic events and that their perpetrators be brought to justice, in order to prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future..
The “Operation Keba” case highlights the urgent need for in-depth reform of security institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to ensure respect for human rights and the protection of vulnerable populations from any form of abuse of power. The duty of truth and justice must prevail so that lessons from this dark episode are learned and concrete measures are taken to prevent such heinous acts in the future.
In conclusion, the case revealed by Amnesty International under the name “Operation Keba” highlights the crucial importance of protecting human rights and holding perpetrators of crimes against humanity accountable. It calls for immediate and determined action to ensure that justice is rendered to innocent victims and that measures are taken to prevent such abuses in the future.