Kinshasa, December 6th, 2022 (CPA).-The Democratic Republic of Congo has invited the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate as a priority the human disaster caused by armed groups in the east of its national territory. « This investigation will allow him to realize the human disaster caused by the terrorist criminal groups of M23 and ADF to the populations living in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu », declared the Minister of State in charge of Justice, Rose Mutombo, in her address on Tuesday at the 21st Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, which is taking place in The Hague in the Netherlands. « While we are in this room, part of the eastern territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, my country, in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, is the scene of crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes of genocide and crimes of aggression which cause thousands of deaths as well as cases of sexual violence against women and girls in particular, not to mention the massive displacement of populations. Just last week, M23 terrorists perpetrated massacres against more than a number of unarmed civilian compatriots in the village of Kishishe in Rutshuru territory, » she said referring to the massacres of over 272 civilians. The perpetrators of these crimes, mainly the ADF terrorist groups, of Ugandan origin, and the M23 auxiliary to the Rwandan army, she affirmed, are now clearly identified by United Nations experts and are even operating face uncovered. « The Prosecutor at the ICC will not hesitate to seize all the authors, co-authors and accomplices of the serious crimes committed in the DRC so that their behavior which undermines the collective memory of humanity is repressed and that everyone says “Never again”, added the Minister of State.
Call for international solidarity
Minister of State Rose Mutombo appealed for international solidarity to put an end to acts of barbarism against the population and the aggression suffered by the DRC.
« By my voice, my country, the Democratic Republic of Congo calls for international solidarity to put an end to the aggression of which it is the victim on the part of Rwanda », she underlined before reiterating her call for cooperation. with the International Criminal Court so that all these criminals are hunted down and punished. “I am convinced that my country will benefit from the same compassion shown by the international community towards Ukraine,” added the Minister in charge of Justice. The Democratic Republic of the Congo ratified by Decree of March 30th, 2002 the Rome Statute relating to the International Criminal Court, the purpose of which is to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of crimes against humanity, war crimes, of genocide and crimes of aggression.
