Democratic republic of the congo: Amnesty International has initiated a global petition, titled 6 Million Voices for Justice for Congo, to demand accountability for the victims and survivors of the long-standing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has claimed approximately 6 million lives over the past 30 years.
According to African Press Organization, the campaign calls for the establishment of an international judicial mechanism to investigate crimes under international law committed by various actors, including Congolese and foreign security forces, between 1993 and 2003. The conflict has severely impacted civilians, with reports of repeated attacks and mass displacements. Rape has been a weapon of war, inflicting profound trauma on thousands of women and girls.
Vongai Chikwanda, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for Campaigns in East and Southern Africa, emphasized the urgent need for justice, highlighting persistent unfulfilled promises to the victims. Chikwanda urged President Tshisekedi to collaborate with the African Union and the United Nations to establish an international judicial mechanism to address war crimes and crimes against humanity and ensure reparations for victims.
The campaign advocates for the Congolese authorities to empower ordinary courts to independently investigate crimes post-2003 and the establishment of mixed chambers within appeal courts for crimes under international law. Amnesty International also calls for creating a tribunal with both Congolese and foreign judges for crimes committed during the Congo wars.
The initiative aims to end the ongoing conflict that has deprived an entire generation of their rights and future. Amnesty International urges global supporters to join the campaign, emphasizing the need for justice, accountability, and reparations in the DRC.
The campaign proposes designating 1 October as an annual Day of Reflection and Action on Crimes under International Law in the DRC, marking the release of the UN's Mapping Report in 2010, which documented extensive rights abuses. The conflict, deeply rooted in historical events such as the Rwandan genocide and foreign interventions, continues to affect civilians today, with over a hundred active armed groups operating in the region.