Popular vindictiveness: a common practice in Goma that raises serious concerns
The city of Goma, located in North Kivu, is the scene of an alarming situation: the upsurge of popular condemnation. Indeed, since the beginning of the year, fifteen people have been victims of this barbaric practice, in different parts of the city.
Faced with this problem, the NGO COMOAD, in partnership with the MONUSCO police (UNPOL), organized a two-day exchange workshop bringing together actors from civil society, citizen movements and the police. This initiative aimed to find solutions to put an end to this spiral of violence.
During these exchanges, the participants noted that the popular revenge in Goma was fueled in particular by the ignorance of the population as to the harmful consequences of such practices, as well as by the inefficiency of the competent services such as the police and justice. Indeed, police delays and inflexibility have led some individuals to take justice into their own hands, for fear the alleged criminals will escape.
Moreover, the presence of corruption within the judiciary favors the impunity of offenders and thus feeds the feeling of injustice within the population. Faced with this reality, the participants made several proposals to fight against popular revenge in Goma.
Among the solutions put forward, it was suggested to provide the police with adequate logistical means to ensure a rapid and effective intervention. Moreover, the systematic sanctioning of corrupt magistrates is an imperative to restore the confidence of the population in the judicial system.
However, the responsibility does not rest solely with the institutions. Participants also underscored the importance of raising public awareness so that they understand the importance of trusting the judiciary and reporting wrongdoing to the competent authorities.
Popular condemnation is a scourge that must be fought vigorously in Goma. By strengthening preventive measures, providing law enforcement with the necessary resources and fighting corruption, it is possible to curb this dangerous practice and preserve security and justice in the city