First Lady Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi has called on Congolese citizens at home and across the diaspora to sign and share a petition seeking recognition of the genocides committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
She made the appeal in a message delivered on Sunday, August 2, 2026, as the country observed the National Day of Tribute to victims of conflict-related sexual violence and victims of crimes against peace and the security of humanity, commonly known as GENOCOST.
The annual commemoration gives the nation an opportunity to honour the victims of decades of violence while strengthening the campaign for truth, justice, reparations and non-repetition. XTRAfrica’s August 2 GENOCOST explainer provides more background on the meaning of the national remembrance day and Congo’s continuing demand for recognition.
A message of remembrance and solidarity
Denise Nyakeru began by honouring the memory of all victims and paying tribute to the people who provided assistance when survivors needed it most.
She described August 2 as a call to the national conscience, reminding citizens that the pain caused by conflict can mark families and pass from one generation to another.
Behind every silence, she said, is a human story still waiting to be acknowledged. That suffering can be seen in the lives of children, in the courage of women and in the continuing struggle of survivors.
Speaking as a woman, a mother, First Lady and Global Champion for the Prevention of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, she offered survivors a clear message of solidarity: “We see you, we hear you.”
She reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that their suffering is not forgotten, arguing that preserving memory is essential to discouraging impunity and preventing future atrocities.
Every signature can become a voice
GENOCOST
Denise Nyakeru Urges Congolese to Sign GENOCOST Recognition Petition
Aug 3, 2026
Aug 5, 2026
5 min read
Published
Updated:
First Lady Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi has called on Congolese citizens at home and across the diaspora to sign and share a petition seeking recognition of the genocides committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
She made the appeal in a message delivered on Sunday, August 2, 2026, as the country observed the National Day of Tribute to victims of conflict-related sexual violence and victims of crimes against peace and the security of humanity, commonly known as GENOCOST.
The annual commemoration gives the nation an opportunity to honour the victims of decades of violence while strengthening the campaign for truth, justice, reparations and non-repetition. XTRAfrica’s August 2 GENOCOST explainer provides more background on the meaning of the national remembrance day and Congo’s continuing demand for recognition.
A message of remembrance and solidarity
Denise Nyakeru began by honouring the memory of all victims and paying tribute to the people who provided assistance when survivors needed it most.
She described August 2 as a call to the national conscience, reminding citizens that the pain caused by conflict can mark families and pass from one generation to another.
Behind every silence, she said, is a human story still waiting to be acknowledged. That suffering can be seen in the lives of children, in the courage of women and in the continuing struggle of survivors.
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Speaking as a woman, a mother, First Lady and Global Champion for the Prevention of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, she offered survivors a clear message of solidarity: “We see you, we hear you.”
She reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that their suffering is not forgotten, arguing that preserving memory is essential to discouraging impunity and preventing future atrocities.
Every signature can become a voice
The First Lady urged Congolese citizens, members of the diaspora and people around the world who believe in justice to take a concrete step by supporting the recognition campaign.
“Signing this petition is not simply adding a name to a list,” she said. In her message, a signature represents a refusal to remain silent and a commitment to breaking cycles of violence.
She called for crimes committed against the Congolese population to be clearly named. Within the wider record of atrocities committed on Congolese soil, she said, certain acts and organised campaigns of violence may meet the legal definition of genocide and have been extensively documented.
The appeal forms part of the DRC’s wider effort to place the experiences of Congolese victims before the international community. President Félix Tshisekedi has also carried the recognition campaign to international audiences, including through the DRC’s GENOCOST advocacy at the United Nations.
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Recognition is a path to dignity and peace
Denise Nyakeru stressed that the petition is not intended to place one people’s suffering against another or to reopen wounds.
Its purpose, she explained, is to restore the dignity of victims and create a path towards justice, reparations, guarantees of non-repetition and lasting peace.
“Recognition is not division. Recognition is humanisation,” she said, presenting remembrance as a way to return victims to their rightful place in Congo’s collective memory.
Her message reflects the DRC government’s position that national remembrance must protect survivors, preserve evidence and strengthen the country’s pursuit of justice.
During the 2026 commemoration, President Tshisekedi also described GENOCOST as a commitment to dignity rather than hatred or revenge and emphasised that formal legal classification falls within the authority of competent judicial institutions.
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A call to Congolese citizens and the diaspora
The First Lady concluded by asking every supporter to transform remembrance into action.
She encouraged Congolese citizens and friends of the DRC to sign the petition, share it through their communities and help carry the voices of victims further across the world.
“May every signature become a voice that helps break the silence,” she said.
The public can support the campaign by signing the petition for recognition of the genocides committed in the DRC and sharing it with others.
For Denise Nyakeru, the goal is to ensure that Congolese victims are seen, heard and remembered, and that national memory becomes a foundation for justice, healing and durable peace.
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