Kinshasa, July 8th 2021 (CPA).- The director of the United Nations joint office for human rights (UNJHRO), Abdoul Aziz Thioye, on Wednesday welcomed the efforts of the Minister in charge of Justice and Keeper of the Seals in Kinshasa, Ms. Rose Mutombo, who had a point of order reforming the operational military court adopted, in her intervention during the United Nations press conference.
« This court did not admit the right to appeal, in violation of the Constitution and international commitments of DRC », said the country director of UNJHRO, who also welcomed the adoption by the Provincial Assembly of Kasai Central of an edict establishing a provincial commission « Justice, truth and reconciliation ».
In addition, he added, the Minister in charge of Human Rights publicly asked for forgiveness, on behalf of the Head of State and the Government, for the atrocities committed in Kasai, according to local customs, during a ceremony burial of ten victims of the violence of May 7th, 2017 (Kamwena Nsapu).
The bodies of the said victims were handed over to the families after forensic examinations supported by the technical assistance team in Kasai, as part of the ongoing legal proceedings.
Provincial authorities and the population of Tshisuku, Kasai Central participated in this ceremony which has symbolic value, with a view to reconciliation and peace in the DRC. This foreshadows transitional justice, a priority for the government and MONUSCO, underlined Abdoul Aziz Thioye.
About fifty victims have been identified. ACP / N’KIERE
