Amnesty International is driving the campaign “6 million voices for justice in Congo”.

The initiative aims to collect six million signatures through a petition, demanding justice for victims of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has lasted over thirty years.

“We were born in war”

In Goma, in the Kasika neighborhood, Noël Chiza, 37, says he has never known peace. A victim of numerous acts of violence throughout his life, this father of five is outraged to see some of those he considers his tormentors now holding positions of responsibility in public institutions, rather than facing justice for their actions.

“We were born in war, we grow up in war, we have experienced atrocities of all kinds and we risk even dying in war. That is why we cannot continue to reward those who have committed crimes by integrating them into institutions, whether at local or national level,” Chiza testified.

Millions of victims still alive

The six million signatures sought by Amnesty International refer to the estimated number of people who have died as a result of conflicts in eastern DRC.

But behind this figure are also millions of other, less visible victims who are still alive. Among them are those who, like Josué Wallay, have been forced to flee their home region.

“Today, I am displaced in Kinshasa, far from my community and my living environment, because of the conflicts raging in eastern DRC. This displacement is not a choice of comfort; it is a rupture with my environment, my habits, my activities and part of what gave meaning to my daily life. The conflicts have affected me on multiple levels,” explained Josué Wallay.

Justice as a condition for lasting peace

For Raphaël Wakenge, a human rights defender involved in the campaign “6 million voices for justice in Congo”, the fight against impunity is essential to achieving lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“Congolese justice suffers not only from a lack of capacity, but also from a lack of political will. We need a justice system capable of providing responses to victims, including through reparations. We call on all those who stand in solidarity with Congolese victims to join this campaign.”

Through this campaign, Amnesty International is also calling for October 1 to be declared “National Day of Reflection and Action on Crimes under International Law Committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”.