DRC Calls Out Global Silence on Genocide Driven by the Looting of Resources

The DRC has denounced the global apathy towards the atrocities associated with resource extraction by troops supported by foreign countries that have been devastating eastern Congo since 1998.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has criticized the civilized world’s seeming lack of response to the atrocities. 

ongoing on its territory as a result of neighboring nations stealing natural resources from the Congo.

Speaking at the GENOCOST Commemoration at the Triumphant Church in Gishiri, Abuja, Pascaline Gerengbo Yakivu, the DRC Ambassador to Nigeria, explained: “The Congolese Government has established a National Day of Tribute to the aforementioned Victims and to the people who provided them with relief and assistance, in accordance with Law Number 22/065 of December 26, 2022, which establishes the fundamental principles relating to the protection and reparation of victims of conflict-related sexual violence and other crimes against peace and security, crimes against humanity, and sexual violence.” This annual event, which falls on August 2nd, is known as GENOCOST, or Genocide for Economic Purposes.

August 2 was selected for the memorial, she explained, since it was on August 2, 1998, that the Congolese people began a long and difficult march that would result in various types of pain, including the battles between the Rwandan and Ugandan soldiers in Kisangani.

The Ambassador bemoaned the fact that every day, peaceful citizens are compelled to leave their homes and seek safety in the bush, far from their natural surroundings, without anything, and dying of malnutrition and illnesses brought on by their nomadic lifestyle. The Ambassador also stated that the international community must act quickly to end the crisis.

Because they are Congolese, they endure all these atrocities of war, and they haven’t hurt anyone,” she wailed. All this, despite the fact that they are hailed as civilized nations, in the complete disregard of other nations and the world community.

Nonetheless, it is well known that the armies of these neighboring nations continue to murder and devastate all of these innocent and peaceful citizens. For almost thirty years, these foreign armies—especially Rwanda’s—have been aiding the M23/AFC terrorist organizations that operate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, occupying sizable areas under false pretenses, raping, killing, and stealing our natural resources from the country’s eastern region. Since it is a circumstance that best suits these predatory powers, if nothing is done, the populations in this area of our region will either be wiped out or will migrate far from their ancestral lands.

She also denounced the fact that “a large part of our territory is occupied, causing more than 7 million internally displaced people,” even as we commemorate the genocide of the Congolese.

“All the research conducted by our state institutions and by credible foreign organizations on the numerous deaths caused by incursions and occupations by foreign armies attest that more than 10 million deaths have been caused by this situation,” the envoy stated. More recently, while attending a Catholic church service in Komada, Ituri Province, RDF armed groups killed worshippers. How much longer will these Congolese massacres go on?

“Can you imagine what ten million deaths would mean?” she continued. Africa and other continents have nations with populations of less than 10 million people.

The ambassador stated: “The DRC’s sons and daughters have become more conscious, and they are calling for compensation for the losses they have endured and condemning the hypocrisy of the international community.”

With the release of the numerous documented UN reports, the DRC took advantage of the opportunity to establish sanctions against the genocide’s perpetrators so that the relevant international organizations could restore regional peace and lessen the suffering of our victim populations.

It is imperative that the international community muster the bravery to acknowledge this atrocity, which is on par with other recognized genocides worldwide.

“The International Community will honor and recognize the collective memory of the Congolese victims in this way.”