"A Year On, Congolese Authorities Must Expand Investigations and Compensate Families of Goma Massacre Victims"
It has been a year since the Goma massacre, in which Congolese security forces killed at least 57 people in eastern Congo. Despite the government’s prosecution of some soldiers, Human Rights Watch is calling for further investigations to establish command responsibility and punish all those responsible. The organization is also urging the government to provide prompt and adequate compensation to the victims or their families.
Background:
On August 30, 2023, Congolese security forces raided a radio station affiliated with a mystic religious group, the Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith Towards the Nations (Foi Naturelle Judaique et Messianique vers les Nations), in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The group was preparing a protest against the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). The soldiers killed six members of the group outside the radio station and took the leader, Ephraim Bisimwa, and eight others to the Republican Guard’s base, where they were beaten and tortured.
The Massacre:
The next day, soldiers arrived at the group’s headquarters, commonly referred to as its temple, and opened fire on the members, killing and wounding dozens. Witnesses reported that the soldiers used military assault rifles and that the gunfire was continuous for several minutes. The soldiers also set the temple on fire, and Human Rights Watch verified videos showing the destruction and chaos.
Investigations and Trials:
A military court tried Mikombe and five other soldiers, and three were sentenced to ten years in prison, while two others, including Mikombe’s deputy, were acquitted. Mikombe was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. However, the case did not address the role played by higher-ranking officers who might have ordered or otherwise be criminally liable for the crimes committed.
Compensation and Accountability:
Human Rights Watch is calling for the government to provide prompt and adequate compensation to the victims or their families. A movement member whose wife was killed said, "I would like us to be compensated for the damage that has been done to us. Looking after seven children without their mother is something that is very difficult for me. We need assistance."
The organization is also urging the government to expand its investigation to establish command responsibility and punish all those responsible, regardless of rank or standing. "The victims of the Goma massacre still await accountability," said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "All those responsible, regardless of rank or standing, should be prosecuted, and those harmed promptly and fairly compensated."
The Goma massacre was a tragic event that highlights the need for accountability and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Human Rights Watch is calling on the government to take concrete steps to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that the victims or their families receive the compensation they deserve. The international community should also support the Congolese government in its efforts to ensure that its security forces abide by regional and international standards on the use of force.
