By Chris Muhizi for MCN.
The commemoration of the Congolese genocide began this Wednesday, August 2, in Kinshasa under the direction of President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi. The Congolese Head of State wished to honor all Congolese who had died unjustly for financial gain and to call for a general uprising against foreign aggression against the DRC, the Presidency recalls as well.
As a result, Félix Tshisekedi said, “I speak out, out of duty and responsibility, in my capacity as guarantor of the Nation, to officially launch the commemoration of the Congolese genocide (GENOCOS), in memory of the millions of Congolese men and women who were victims in recent decades of acts of barbarism and indescribable cruelty.”
He says that this cruelty is “organized by certain powers and their agents with no other motivation than their obsession with illegally exploitation of our natural resources against our interests.”
The date of August 2 holds special significance for the DRC’s nation and people in the collective memory, according to President Tshisekedi.
“August 2, 2023, is particularly so. It already brings to mind another significant holiday, January 4, which honors the independence martyrs, said Mr. Tshisekedi.
“Genocide for economic gain” is what GENOCOST stands for. According to the organizers, it’s a result of both cost and genocide. This phrase, according to them, was chosen to describe the economic basis of the genocide in the the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Congolese Genocide Memorial Day (CENOCOS) is an annual commemoration of all those who lost their lives during the many conflicts that have plagued the DRC over the years.
A project of the Congolese Action Youth Platform (CAYP), GENOCOST was created to raise awareness of the genocide committed against the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The goal of this campaign is to have August 2 recognized officially as a day of remembrance for all those who have perished during the long history of conflict in the Congo.
