Quest for accountability as UNSC slams Congolese authorities over hate speech, ethnic stereotyping

Representatives of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) member states have come out to condemn the continued crimes against humanity that Congolese authorities are inflicting against Congolese Tutsis, or Rwandans in DR Congo. The main culprit for these crimes is Tshisekedi, and his government that are busy fanning the fires of genocide.

Hate speech and dangerous ethnic stereotyping which Kinshasa is increasingly fueling amidst the civil war pitting the Congolese army (FARDC) and their FDLR allies against the M23 movement took center stage at the UNSC gathering yesterday, Wednesday, June 29, at UN headquarters in New York.

Addressing the gathering, Richard Merrill Mills Jr., the U.S Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, called out Kinshasa to “stop with immediate effect”, hate speech and crimes that the Tshisekedi regime commits against those it labels “enemies” of DRC – mainly Tutsi, Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese.

The U.S envoy’s assertions were echoed by several other diplomats. However, the reluctance of the international community towards bringing to book behind the heinous crimes in Congo was obvious.

Tshisekedi himself a fortnight ago blatantly lied that, “Rwanda seeks to occupy our land rich in gold, coltan, and cobalt for their exploitation and profits.” Such incendiary lies and scapegoating of Rwanda are then used to justify genocide. The world has already seen how hundreds have been gruesomely murdered or sustained bad injuries in North Kivu and Maniema Provinces.

Those fueling dangerous anti-Tutsi rhetoric are well known. They include senior military and police officers such as the Provincial Police Commissioner for North Kivu, General Aba Van Ang, and “men of the cloth” who include Bishop Kabundi Walesa of the “Walesa Centre de Reveil Spirituel/Walesa Ministries”.

For instance, Bishop Kabundi has resorted to dressing in full combat attire while inciting his churchgoers to take up arms at their disposal and join hands with FARDC in the “struggle” to get rid of Tutsi citizens in DRC.

This is in addition to a campaign that the Congolese authorities embarked on last week, in which the authorities blatantly announced a $15,000 bounty per prominent Tutsi’s head; a clear indication that DRC looks to commit genocide.

UNSC statements and other statements that various actors are increasingly making against senior Congolese authorities should be translated into action by indicting these culprits and their allies.