Fatshimetrie: The Quest for Transitional Justice in the DRC
The Democratic Republic of Congo is at a crucial crossroads in its history, as the scars of armed conflict, massive human rights violations, and economic inequality continue to weigh on the social fabric. To build a future of sustainable peace, it is essential that the government adopt a holistic, inclusive, participatory, and victim-centered national transitional justice policy.
The goal of transitional justice is to fight impunity for crimes committed, restore the truth, foster reconciliation, repair the harm inflicted on victims, and ensure that atrocities are not repeated, while promoting the duty of remembrance. To achieve this, effective coordination of multiple transitional justice initiatives is essential.
President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi must establish a strong coordination mechanism to harmonize actions at all levels, from national to local, in collaboration with his government. This mechanism aims to reduce redundancies and promote synergy between decision-makers, civil society, victims’ groups and international partners, while respecting the specificities of the regions where victims reside.
Gentil Kasongo, representative of Impunity Watch, underscores the importance for stakeholders to seize this historic opportunity to lay solid foundations for an inclusive process, thus helping to break cycles of violence and pave the way for sustainable peace and development.
It is crucial that the DRC government take concrete steps to adopt a national transitional justice policy focused on the aspirations and priorities of victims, including those in North and South Kivu provinces as well as Ituri. By placing victims at the heart of the process and ensuring close coordination of all initiatives, the DRC will be able to lay the foundations for a future marked by justice, dignity and national solidarity.
Under the Just Future programme, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and implemented in several countries, including the DRC, efforts focus on three key areas: people-centred security, access to justice for all, and inclusive governance and peace. Impunity Watch, an international non-profit NGO, works alongside victims of violence to eradicate structures of impunity, obtain redress for human rights violations, and promote justice and peace.
In conclusion, the quest for transitional justice in the DRC is a crucial element in turning the page on past conflicts, rebuilding trust between communities, and paving the way for a more just and inclusive society.It is time to act in a concerted and determined manner to ensure that the lessons of the past are used to build a better future for all Congolese.