Kinshasa, July 30th, 2025 (CPA).– On Wednesday, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was invited by the President of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo to condemn the massacres of innocent civilians in Ituri (north-east of the country) at the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland. « It is with deep sadness that I announce that on the night of Saturday July 26th to 27th, 2025, armed groups carried out a massacre in Komanda in the territory of Irumu in Ituri province, targeting Christian worshippers gathered in prayer in a parish hall. (…) Today in Geneva, a city that symbolizes human rights, I invite you to join the Congolese people in unequivocally condemning this heinous crime committed against innocent civilians, » has said Vital Kamerhe. ‘This act of unspeakable violence illustrates once again the suffering endured by the people of eastern DRC for more than three decades in a conflict that has already caused nearly ten million deaths and seven million displaced persons, a veritable forgotten genocide,’ has added President Kamerhe.
Participants at the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva, Switzerland In this regard, he said, the Inter-Parliamentary Union should become more involved in this issue ‘at a time when part of our territory is occupied by Rwanda and AFC/M23.’ The head of the Congolese Lower House took the opportunity to reaffirm DRC’s commitment to working to ‘strengthen the natural ties of cooperation and peaceful coexistence’ with all neighboring countries. « The DRC’s commitment to peace goes beyond the conflict between Rwanda and my country. I would like to reaffirm our sincere desire to strengthen our natural ties of cooperation and peaceful coexistence with all our neighbors. What we are seeking is to silence the clamor of arms. What we want is to free our young people and women from the anguish of war and terrorism, so that they can participate fully in the prosperity of our country and the emergence of our continent in a more just and peaceful world, » he has concluded. Organized by the IPU, in close collaboration with the UN, this five-yearly meeting brings together the presidents of the parliamentary chambers of UN member countries around the theme ‘The world in turmoil: parliamentary cooperation and multilateralism for peace, justice and prosperity for all’. The conference opened on Tuesday July 29th, and will continue until July 31st.