There is an urgent need for the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) to consider scrutinizing the continued gravest crimes that are increasingly being committed against Kinyarwanda-speaking, citizens of DR Congo as a result of the doings of President Felix Tshisekedi’s government.
President Tshisekedi has institutionalized a militia wing dubbed “Brigade Spéciale de l’UDPS” which is under the auspices of his political party, UDPS. The youthful members of the new militia strut around with machetes, spears, and hammers among other crude weapons while intimidating and killing those that the President has already labeled “enemies” of DRC.
That’s in addition to the incendiary statement that Tshisekedi made over the weekend that “Rwanda seeks to occupy our land rich in gold, coltan, and cobalt for their exploitation and profits.” The president was sensationalizing the ongoing Congolese civil war pitting the country’s army (FARDC) and anti-Kinshasa rebel movement- M23, and the president’s attack dogs are leveraging the speech to brutalize their targets.
Moreover, a senior police officer, the Provincial Police Commissioner for North Kivu, General Aba Van Ang, was recorded on camera addressing police officers at a fall-in and called upon Congolese to take up traditional arms to “kill every Rwandan on Congolese soil,” a ploy which is currently in execution mode.
As a result of the pronouncement made by Tshisekedi and other senior military and public officials, dozens of victims majorly comprised of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese Tutsi were murdered in cold blood while others’ properties were ransacked. The concerned authorities are sitting mischievously while they prop up the perpetrators. Unfortunately, the incidents are likely not to stop if nothing is done.
Given the fact that DRC is a member of ICC, the court should therefore weigh-in and indict the senior Congolese authorities for they are not above the law.
Congolese officials need to be held accountable, as justice delayed is justice denied!
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