Mukwege Calls for Probe Into Missing $325M DRC Reparations Fund

Denis Mukwege has called for an independent investigation into the alleged disappearance of $325 million in reparations awarded to the Democratic Republic of Congo, arguing that victims of the Kisangani conflict are still waiting for justice and compensation.

Writing on the 26th anniversary of the Six-Day War, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate urged authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible for the missing funds.

Mukwege said the money stemmed from a 2022 ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered Uganda to pay the DRC $325 million in reparations for damages caused during years of conflict and occupation in eastern Congo.

The compensation was intended to support individuals and communities affected by the violence and destruction.

According to Mukwege, the alleged disappearance of the funds represents a profound injustice to survivors and families who continue to live with the consequences of the conflict. He called for a fully independent inquiry to establish what happened to the money, recover any misappropriated funds, and hold those responsible accountable.

The Six-Day War, fought in Kisangani in June 2000 between Rwandan and Ugandan forces on Congolese territory, remains one of the deadliest episodes of the Second Congo War. The conflict caused hundreds of civilian deaths and widespread destruction.

Many of the abuses committed during the period were later documented in the United Nations Mapping Report, which highlighted longstanding concerns over accountability and reparations for victims.