Amnesty International urges the international community on Monday to hold the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi, accountable for violations of human rights.

The group accused the DRC president of “ignoring the continuing deterioration of human rights under his own government” in his latest speech to the UN General Assembly on September 25.  The report by Jean Mobert Senga, Amnesty International’s DRC researcher, argues the failure of the government to uphold human rights in the dire situation the country is facing. The report also mentions the accountability of armed groups on the eastern side of the country which Rwanda allegedly supports. This was also addressed by President Tshisekedi in his speech as he stated, “[t]he resurgence of the M23 terrorist groups supported by Rwanda has caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.” The President had also requested targeted sanctions against Rwanda.

Amnesty International criticizes the government’s approach to the existing human rights crisis. The organization urges once again President Tshisekedi to stop the state of siege imposed in North Kivu and Ituri since May 2021, halt the threats and arbitrary detentions against journalists, activists and political opponents, and ensure transparency in cases of sexual violence in prisons. Mobert highlights:

Despite repeated calls for justice, the government has so far largely failed to bring both Congolese and foreign perpetrators of crimes under international law to justice. Powerful actors continue to operate with impunity, deepening the cycle of violence.

As of the latest reports by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 25.4 million DRC citizens need humanitarian assistance. Moreover, the insecurity brought about by the ongoing conflict has left more than six million people internally displaced. The situation in the DRC exposes several violations of international human rights and humanitarian norms. The freedom of movement and the right to liberty and security of persons in the DRC endangers the country’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Furthermore, Congolese soldiers and other militias targeting civilians could amount to serious humanitarian law violations.

Amnesty International calls for allies of the president, including the United States, South Africa, Angola, Belgium, and France, to make the government accountable for the existing violations of human rights in the DRC.