Congolese diaspora protests at UN, calls for action against atrocities in DRC

The demonstrators called on the international community to intervene, accusing the DRC government of failing to protect its Tutsi population amidst escalating ethnic violence.

Leading the protest was Willy Manzi, a vocal figure in the diaspora, who delivered a clear message to the world: “We cannot remain silent as our people are massacred. We demand that President Tshisekedi be held accountable for allowing these atrocities to continue unchecked.”

The protesters urged the United Nations to launch an independent investigation into the violence, citing widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, mass displacement, and systemic discrimination.

They called for an independent investigation into war crimes and genocidal acts committed under the watch of the DRC government and immediate UN intervention to safeguard at-risk populations, especially the Tutsis.

The Congolese diaspora also called urged for repatriation of Congolese refugees from neighboring countries and guarantees for their safety and rights upon their return.

Other demands include an end to arbitrary arrests and detentions of Tutsis in Kinshasa and other regions, negotiations with the M23 rebel group to restore peace and stability in the eastern DRC and tackling of corruption and tribalism, which have further fueled the crisis.

At the same time, hundreds of demonstrators gathered Wednesday in the DR Congo capital Kinshasa to protest against the country's bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

In August, the Democratic Republic of Congo announced that it was running for a seat on the Human Rights Council for a three-year term from 2025, as well as a two-year term on the Security Council of the United Nations from 2026.

Having surrounded the justice ministry, the protesters and activists from political parties and citizens' movements charged that the DRC was unworthy of a seat as the government had "trampled" its democracy.

"We call on the UN not to accept the candidacy of the Democratic Republic of Congo (to the human rights council)," said Grace Bele, an activist from the Alliance for Change political party.

Waving flags and carrying posters, the demonstrators chanted slogans including "Free the opponents" and "We say no to the dictatorship" outside the office of Justice Minister Constant Mutamba.

A Congolese prisoner rights organisation on Monday also opposed the country's candidacy.

"The DRC does not meet the necessary conditions to claim such a position of international responsibility," the Bill Clinton Foundation for Peace said in a statement.

It cited arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions, physical and mental torture, as well as summary executions.

The vote is scheduled for October 9 in Geneva, where the UN Human Rights Council is headquartered.

Several other African countries, including South Africa and Nigeria, are demanding permanent seats on the Security Council for the continent.

The DRC was previously elected in 2017 to the UN Human Rights Council for a term -- drawing criticism from the United States and international rights organisations.

The central African country's political climate has become increasingly tense since the December 2023 presidential election, won by Felix Tshisekedi.

According to Omer Nsongo, a political analyst, Tshisekedi’s efforts to secure international backing may be undermined by the growing unrest both at home and abroad.

“The international community is watching closely, and Tshisekedi’s bid for a Security Council seat is far from guaranteed,” Nsongo remarked.