DRC: controversy continues over appointment of former rebels as military governors

DRC (May 4, 2021): During a press conference, government, police and military spokespersons explained the measures related to the state of siege.

(Drawing).

© Sonia Rolley / RFI

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the military governors appointed under the state of siege have still not arrived in the provinces they are to administer.

Since Thursday, the state of siege has been in effect in North Kivu and Ituri.

The objective is to put an end to the massacres in these two provinces.

Human Rights Watch is concerned about the profiles chosen to conduct these operations.

While the president's representative speaks of " 

presumption of innocence".

Publicity

Read more

The governors of North Kivu and Ituri, Generals Luboya Nkashama and Constant Ndima, are

said

to

have been guilty of abuses

by their position of command.

"According to a UN report, Lieutenant-General Ndima would have commanded him the men of the rebellion of the MLC

(Movement for the Liberation of Congo)

which in 2002 led a particularly violent operation in Ituri called" Erase the table "",

entrusts

Thomas Fessy, researcher at Human Rights watch.

“And according to investigators, he himself wore this nickname which actually came from a special rebellion unit, including combatants from another armed group, the RCDN (

Rassemblement des Congolais democrats nationalistes).

For his part, Lieutenant-General Ludoya, former head of military intelligence for the RCD Goma rebellion, could be responsible through his command post for murders, rapes and other abuses committed by these forces ”,

continues the researcher.

"Generalized impunity ..."

Thomas Fessy considers that these appointments recall "

the generalized impunity for the atrocities committed by rebel groups as well as by armed forces.

And this impunity continues to fuel conflicts today.

Eastern Congo has suffered from cycles of violence for decades and the armed forces are a major player on so many levels in highly militarized provinces.

Therefore, giving them more leeway without being integrated into a comprehensive approach to justice for serious crimes, sanitation of the armed bodies and a mechanism for the demobilization of ex-combatants raises concerns for the protection of civilians and of human rights ”.

►

To read also:

State of siege in the DRC: former rebels appointed military governors

For the president's policy officer and focal point for international justice, Professor Taylor Lubanga, the situation is not that simple.

More than allegations are needed, and the Head of State's determination to fight impunity remains unwavering.

“There is no immunity that comes from simple appointment.

A person appointed to any degree of responsibility, whose evidence, whose combined charges are presented by the competent authority, will be prosecuted.

"

"The victims must come forward"

So why not launch a parallel instruction on "Erase the board" to find out what is General Ndima's responsibility?

“I think there is a whole procedure for this,”

replies Taylor Lubanga

.

The victims must present themselves, if they exist, civil society, NGOs must be able to collaborate and put themselves at the disposal of the authorities concerned who intervene in the castings or in the proposals for the appointment of such military officer to allow just that. be done.

But if the information is not delivered on time or if the elements arrived are not equally consistent.

But today, we cannot blame the State for being people who benefit from the presumption of innocence ”.

►

To read also:

President Tshisekedi lays the contours of the state of siege in Ituri and North Kivu

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• DRC

• Felix Tshisekedi

• Justice