Kinshasa, April 15th, 2025 (CPA). – The finalization of a report to strengthen the prosecution of perpetrators of atrocities committed against the population in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was announced in Paris, France, by the head of a Congolese institution, in a restitution made to CPA on Tuesday. « The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH-RDC) is finalizing a documented general report on the atrocities committed against civilian populations by Rwanda, which will shortly be transmitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The aim of this document is to enlighten the international community on the scale of the atrocities and to strengthen the judicial process with a view to prosecuting the perpetrators of these crimes, particularly war crimes », said Paul Nsapu, President of this Congolese institution supporting democracy, after his working visit to Paris. The President of the CNDH-RDC took advantage of this human rights diplomacy mission, recently carried out in Paris, to give an overview of the serious human rights violations perpetrated in the east of the country by the Rwandan army and its supporters of the March 23 Movement and the Congo River Alliance (M23-AFC). He also recalled the fundamental mission of his institution, namely the promotion and protection of human rights in the DRC. He underlined the importance for the CNDH of ensuring respect for fundamental freedoms and the guarantee mechanisms put in place within this framework.
The audience at the press conference
« As part of its mandate, the CNDH regularly publishes reports detailing the human rights situation throughout the country. These reports are forwarded to the highest State authorities, in particular the President of the Republic, the National Assembly, the Senate, the Government and the country’s highest courts », he said. He also made an urgent appeal for urgent care for the internally displaced, who number over 7 million, according to the latest UN figures. Paul Nsapu also spoke of the plight of displaced Congolese in Bumdjumbura, following the occupation of the towns of Goma and Bukavu in North and South Kivu. He had recently visited the Burundian capital to see for himself the alarming living conditions of tens of thousands of displaced Congolese, particularly women and children. With this in mind, he called for the establishment of an International Criminal Tribunal for the DRC, to ensure that justice is done and that those responsible for serious crimes are punished. President Paul Nsapu’s visit was part of an official invitation to exchange views with a group of French parliamentarians. He stressed the importance of international advocacy for an effective and just response to the humanitarian and security crisis in eastern DRC. ACP/