Three citizens from the Democratic Republic of Congo have taken the government of President Felix Tshisekedi to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), accusing it of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
These three citizens are Masoso Bideri Antoinette from South Kivu, David Fati Karambi from North Kivu, and Mandro Logoliga Paul from Ituri province.
Reports indicate that these Congolese citizens filed this complaint with the EACJ on April 11, 2025, where they were assisted by four lawyers.
In presenting this complaint, they stated that the Congolese army had launched drone attacks in areas inhabited by Banyamulenge, and that these attacks began between February 19 and 25 of this year, 2025.
As they explained to the court, they indicated that attacks were carried out in Gakangala and Lundu, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries, with many others fleeing.
They also accused the Congolese army of conducting airstrikes with a Sukhoi warplane in Minembwe on March 10, 2025, which also claimed many lives and damaged the local airport used by civilians.
These citizens further informed the court that besides these attacks and others that followed, the Kinshasa government had refused to protect the Banyamulenge from attacks by armed groups such as Wazalendo and FDLR in various areas of the Fizi territory, including an attack that occurred on March 3, 2025.
On February 23, 2025, the CODECO group launched an attack in the Ituri province, resulting in the deaths of many members of the Hema ethnic group, and it was reported that the Kinshasa government showed no willingness to assist them.
The East African Court also indicated that the Kinshasa government had suspended banking and commercial services in the South Kivu and North Kivu provinces, aiming to harm the Congolese people of Tutsi ethnicity.
They explained that the Kinshasa government had imprisoned Congolese Tutsis, accusing them of collaborating with the M23 group. They cited the case of Olive Kirohaa, who was recently arrested.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there has been an increase in hate speech targeting primarily those who speak Kinyarwanda and Swahili. The complainants indicated that the goal is genocide and that it is troubling that these speeches are propagated by the leaders of the government of this country.
They requested the court to order the government to cease attacks on the Banyamulenge, Tutsis, and Hemas, to take measures to protect their security, and to allow the resumption of trade and banking services in the South Kivu and North Kivu provinces.
Not only that, but they also asked the court to order the Kinshasa government to provide compensation to the Banyamulenge, Tutsis, and Hemas for what they have lost and the damages incurred during the attacks against them.
On April 11, 2025, the registrar of the EAC court informed the Minister of Justice and the State Attorney of Kinshasa to respond in writing within 45 days, otherwise the case would proceed in the absence of the state.
