The revealing figures from a desk research report on serious crimes committed in South Kivu province are alarming. Between 1994 and 2024, no fewer than 191 incidents constituting serious crimes against the civilian population were recorded. These damning figures, revealed to the general public by the Working Group on Transitional Justice in South Kivu, highlight a dark reality that threatens the peace and security of the inhabitants of the region.
This report highlights that the majority of these crimes were committed in the territories of Kalehe and Mwenga, representing 23% and 25% of the incidents recorded respectively. The perpetrators of these reprehensible acts are mainly non-state armed groups, followed by state security services. This distribution highlights the complexity of the situation and underlines the need for urgent action to put an end to this violence.
In statistical terms, the report indicates that 60% of cases are attributed to non-state groups, 12% to security services, and 12% to a combination of both. These data demonstrate the diversity of actors involved in serious crimes committed in South Kivu province.
Unfortunately, most of the cases recorded have not yet had a final judicial outcome, and many incidents have not even been brought to justice. This situation raises major concerns about the impunity that seems to reign in the region. It is essential that the justice system take the results of this report seriously in order to initiate in-depth judicial investigations and strengthen actions in favor of victims and witnesses of these heinous crimes.
The report highlights the need to implement transitional justice mechanisms, both judicial and non-judicial. The recommendations of the working group emphasize the importance of the action of the justice system to restore peace and justice in South Kivu province.
This report, the result of the work of civil society organisations supported by Trial International and the British Embassy in the DRC, highlights the urgent need to act to end serious crimes and restore peace in the region. It is time for the international community to mobilise to support efforts to end this violence and ensure the security and protection of civilians in South Kivu.