DRC Pays Tribute to Victims of Wars Amidst Rwandan Tensions

Flags were flown at half-mast across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on August 2, 2024, honoring victims of economically motivated massacres. In Kisangani, Prime Minister Judith Tuluka led the ceremonies, calling for the establishment of an International Criminal Tribunal for the DRC to ensure justice for international crimes.

Tuluka urged international support and emphasized the need for mechanisms to prevent criminals from holding decision-making positions in the DRC.

In Goma, North Kivu, where fighting between the M23 rebels and the Congolese army continues, a hundred people gathered to pay homage to war victims. Seven civilians, killed by shells allegedly fired by M23 rebels in July, were buried near the Rwandan border. Civil society member Destin Balume condemned the international community's inaction, demanding justice for atrocities in eastern DRC.

Minister of Mines, Kizito Kapinga Mulume, reassured the population of the government's commitment to restoring peace and safeguarding the nation's integrity. Commemorations extended to Lubero and Beni, where recent attacks by ADF-NALU rebels, allied with the Islamic State, resulted in over sixty civilian deaths.

Since 1993, more than 10 million lives have been lost in the DRC due to ongoing conflicts, highlighting the urgent need for international intervention and justice.