Kenyatta Mirindi, of the UK Justice Congo Group, made an oral intervention on behalf of the Next Century Foundation in the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Transcript:

Thank you. And now give the floor to the representative from the Next Century Foundation. The people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) face an extremely important election in December 2023. We urge the United Nations Human Rights Council to rigorously work to maintain, for the Congolese people, the universal human right to be represented.
Regrettably, violent suppression of opposition by the DRC government is taking place, as well as chaotic confusion over electoral registration, especially in the war-torn eastern region. The historic interference in this region by the government of the Republic of Rwanda, including the current violent incursions of the Rwanda-backed M23 militia, continues to cause terror amongst the Congolese people, who flee their homes in large numbers, leaving them unable to take part in the democratic process. This is, of course, in the best interests of the Rwandan government as it colludes with and continues to infiltrate the DRC government in order to maintain its access to the rich mineral mines in the region.
In the past, international election observers have not been effective. The National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO) has recently produced a report on fraudulent irregularities in the preparation for the elections. We suggest that CENCO could work with Congolese civil society movements, and national and international human rights organisations, to set up an internal Congolese dialogue to address these irregularities.
Thank you.