The fallout of a record petition
A petition campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo is generating significant public debate and raising urgent questions about the country’s future. The initiative, led by Amnesty International, aims to collect six million signatures, each one representing a demand for justice for victims of a conflict that has lasted more than three decades. The response so far suggests a deep well of frustration and a growing expectation that the era of impunity may finally be ending.
“We were born in war”
In the Kasika neighborhood of Goma, 37-year-old Noël Chiza speaks with the weariness of someone who has never known peace. A father of five, he has survived numerous violent attacks. What angers him most is seeing some of the people he considers his tormentors now holding positions of responsibility in public institutions, rather than facing justice.
“We were born in war, we grow up in war, we have lived through atrocities of all kinds, and we risk even dying in war. That’s why we cannot continue to reward those who committed crimes by integrating them into institutions, whether at the local or national level,” Chiza said.
Millions of victims still alive
The six million signatures sought by Amnesty International refer to the estimated number of people who have died as a result of conflicts in eastern DR Congo. But behind that figure are millions of other, less visible victims who are still alive. Among them are people like Josué Wallay, who was forced to flee his home region.
“Today, I am displaced in Kinshasa, far from my community and my way of life, because of the conflicts raging in eastern DR Congo. This displacement is not a choice of comfort; it is a break from my environment, my habits, my activities, and part of what gave meaning to my daily life. The conflicts have affected me on many levels,” Wallay explained.
Justice as a precondition for lasting peace
For Raphaël Wakenge, a human rights defender involved in the campaign, fighting impunity is essential to achieving lasting peace in DR Congo. “Congolese justice suffers not only from a lack of capacity but also from a lack of political will. We need a justice system capable of providing answers to victims, including through reparations. We call on all those who stand in solidarity with Congolese victims to join this campaign,” he said.
As part of the campaign, Amnesty International is also calling for October 1 to be declared a “National Day of Reflection and Action on Crimes under International Law Committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
What comes next?
The petition’s momentum has already shifted the public conversation, but the path ahead remains uncertain. The campaign’s success will depend on whether the signatures translate into political pressure and, ultimately, into concrete action. For now, the voices of six million victims and survivors are demanding to be heard.