The spokesperson for the DRC government responded Thursday, December 12 to a report from Amnesty International in which the NGO estimates that “ senior Congolese army officials to be investigated for possible crimes against humanity committed in Goma massacre » of August 30, 2023. « A response was blatantly given: responsibilities were established, convictions were made », replied Patrick Muyaya.
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LONG Amnesty International denounced in a report published Wednesday December 11 of ” possible crimes against humanity » perpetrated by senior officials of the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), during the massacre of at least 56 people in Goma, on August 30, 2023.
In this document, the NGO concludes that it was not a blunder and calls on the courts to open an investigation into the responsibility of senior army officials, including former governor Constant Ndima. A report commented by the government spokesperson of DRC.
“ We didn’t wait for Amnesty International »
During a press conference attended by our correspondent in Kinshasa, Paulina ZidiPatrick Muyaya in fact recalled that the DRC had already initiated legal proceedings following the events in Goma: “ We did not wait for Amnesty International which came a year after the commission of the facts. There was a flagrant trial, there were two members of the government who were dispatched to the site and who gave answers based on the documents communicated to them. »
He continues: “ It would have been desirable for Amnesty International, through its experts, that, if they had evidence which, for example, implicates or demonstrates the responsibility of General Ndima, they can transmit it. Because we, as a government, consider that, on this question, an answer has been blatantly given: responsibilities have been established, convictions have been made. There is an appeal trial which is expected. I think we have to stick with that. »
The DRC Minister of Communication concludes: “ Sometimes, we should not give the impression that we ourselves do not know how to do justice when there are problems and that, when we have done justice, we are told that justice was not well done. Because, for some, it is absolutely necessary for this or that other to be able to be arrested. »
Also readDRC: Amnesty calls on the justice system to investigate the responsibility of the army during a massacre in Goma