At least 43 people were killed Aug. 30 as government troops fired on protesters in Goma, capital of conflicted North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The protest against the the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) was organized by a religious sect, the Natural Judaic & Messianic Faith Towards the Nations, also known as Wazalendo. MONUSCO “peacekeepers” have faced repeated protests from local residents over their failure to protect civilians amid ongoing inter-factional fighting. The UN is demanding an investigation into the Goma incident, which Human Rights Watch called an “apparent massacre.” In addition to the slain, 56 were reported injured and at least 222 arrested. (Jurist, AP, France24)
Photo: Sylvain Liechti via UN News
DRC soldiers put on trial after massacre
A military tribunal in DR Congo put six soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) on trial on Sept. 5 following the deaths of 56 people at an anti-UN demonstration on Aug, 30. The soldiers face multiple charges, including crimes against humanity. (Jurist)
Demand investigation of ‘crimes against humanity’ in DRC
Amnesty International on Dec. 11 called for an investigation into three senior officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for their alleged involvement in possible crimes against humanity during a violent crackdown on a demonstration in Goma city last year. Among those named is te ex-military governor of North Kivu province, Constant Ndima Kongba.
Two separate military trials over the August 2023 massacre took place in Goma last year, but neither delivered effective accountability and justice to prevent future massacres. Appeals in both trials are underway.