** Kinshasa, a crossroads of international justice: the visit of Karim Khan and the quest for a lasting reality in the DRC **
On February 25, 2025, the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, was the scene of an event marking as part of the fight against impunity and the search for justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). President Félix Tshisekedi welcomed the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, for a meeting whose implications extend far beyond the walls of the City of the African Union. The central subject? The security and humanitarian crisis that compensates for the eastern country, a region bruised by decades of conflict and violence.
** A judicious approach: the ICC strengthens its presence in the DRC **
The appeal launched by Karim Khan, targeting testimonies on the atrocities committed in Eastern Congo under the Rwandan occupation and by armed groups such as M23, is indicative of a will to intervene proactively. There are millions of Congolese who live in the fear of militias daily, and this message could be perceived as a hope of restoring access to justice, but also a form of citizen mobilization.
The figures speak for themselves: according to UN data, since 1998, about six million people have lost their lives due to the war and the indirect consequences of this violence. In comparison, the Syrian crisis, often mentioned in the international media, fled the attention of the world, despite the fact that it has caused around 500,000 deaths since 2011. The DRC, undoubtedly, presents a scale of atrocities often underestimated and little covered by international media.
** A conference with strategic issues **
The Conference on Peace, Security and Justice scheduled for next April in Kinshasa promises to be an essential milestone in the mapping of solutions to the crisis. The possibility of setting up a special criminal court dedicated to the DRC highlights the emergence of a legal mechanism adapted to the specificities of the country. The analogy with other countries victims of similar crises, such as Rwanda with its International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (TPIR), could offer valuable lessons. Indeed, the TPIR laid bases on which the idea of transitional justice has gradually taken shape.
In addition, a new study by the Human Rights Commission in the DRC revealed that a significant share of the population does not have access to justice, mainly due to the corruption and ineffectiveness of local institutions . Placing justice at the center of the public debate, like Karim Khan and Félix Tshisekedi seem to do so, could potentially generate a radical change in the perception of criminal justice in the country.
** reconciliation or simple crisis management? **
However, this dynamic must be welcomed with caution. The lighting of atrocities must support a real process of national reconciliation, otherwise it may be perceived as a simple crisis management. The real question that arises is that of the integration of witnesses and victims in the judicial process. Cases of war crimes, such as those documented by the annual reports of the Human Rights Commission, should not be treated as simple figures, but as the stories of broken lives.
The involvement of civil society in discussions and decisions made after the conference is crucial. Including the voices of victims and local actors could transform this conference into a discussion platform for more sustainable solutions. The lessons learned from experiences in Sierra Leone or Liberia, where transitional justice has mobilized citizens to establish historical truths and recognize the sufferings of the victims, could prove useful.
** A light at the end of the tunnel? **
Karim Khan said the Congolese population deserves protection and justice. When examining the country’s history, this message, even if it resonates positively, must be put into perspective with current challenges. Years of stigmatization, war and corruption cannot be swept away with a hand. The results of this collaboration must also be tangible and the process transparent, without which distrust of institutions could last.
In short, the meeting between Félix Tshisekedi and Karim Khan represents much more than a simple exchange of politeness. This is a unique opportunity to transform the pains of the past into lessons for the future. However, the challenge remains size: carrying out a balance between the call for justice, the protection of witnesses and the need to build bridges between the different communities of the country. A real test of the resilience of the nation which could define its future in the long term.