Written by: Carolina Castro, Eszti Galantai & Linn Vogelsang
“All Eyes on Rafah” has been widely circulated on social media, referring to Israel’s deadly offensive in Rafah. The Court of Justice has ordered Israel to immediately halt its operations in Rafah on the 24th of May, where displaced Palestinians have fled amidst Israel’s ongoing military offensive, potentially amounting to genocide. See Amnesty International’s call for compliance with the Judgment here. To draw attention to Israel’s non-compliance with international law after news of continued bombing in Rafah, the AI-generated All Eyes on Rafah image has circulated the world. Amid discussions about the horrifying human rights violations and despair inflicted on the Palestinian people, other images started appearing on social media platforms saying ‘All Eyes on Rafah, on Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo’ (DRC), expressing grave concerns about ongoing human rights violations in all these different parts of the world. With this article, we aim to highlight the situation in the DRC, and two of the many human rights concerns.
The Democratic Republic of Congo
In the face of continuous hostilities between armed groups and Congolese security forces, and in the wake of regional tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, the human rights situation in the Congo remains dire. Armed attacks against civilians accounted for thousands of deaths, including the internal displacement of nearly 7 million people. Most of the population is deprived of social, economic and cultural rights, which includes access to adequate food, clean water, sanitation, electricity, education, healthcare and housing. As the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country – the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) – states, it is a humanitarian disaster ‘unfolding before our eyes.’ Besides the internal armed conflict and hostilities plaguing the country, multinational companies mining expansions continue to threaten the human rights of citizens of the Congo. Thus different actors are responsible for the multifaceted human rights violations taking place in the DRC, which will be elucidated below.
Forced evictions: Multinational companies’ mining expansion results in forced evictions of the Congolese
Among many prevalent human rights issues happening simultaneously in the Democratic Republic of Congo, forced evictions is one that affects the citizens of the Congo disproportionately. Human rights violations usually do not happen in a vacuum, as they are famously known for being indivisible. In the case of forced evictions, rights such as the right to adequate housing which is an important social right, and to be free from violence have been violated.
To understand how and why forced evictions are taking place for the Congolese people, we first must look at the definition of these acts. Amnesty International defines forced evictions as the removal from their homes or lands they reside on, without their consent, and without providing them the essential safeguards international human rights law grants them. Forced evictions, as the name suggests, are often carried out through the use of violence, such as using bulldozers, teargas and even batons. Those most at risk are already marginalized groups, who have little recourse to legal avenues to protect themselves, or fight back against these unlawful actions, often carried out by governments or local authorities. Secondly, in the case of the DRC, it is imperative to grasp the background of these occurrences. According to a detailed Amnesty International study on industrial mining and its consequences such as forced evictions, the DRC is Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest country, abundant in natural resources, such as copper and cobalt, which European states have been long exploiting and profiting from. Both are used to produce batteries that power our smartphones, laptops and other electrical devices.
After Congo declared its independence from Belgium, the price of copper was high, but in the 1990s, many copper companies collapsed as the prices plummeted. Today the majority of mining companies are owned by either Western or Chinese investors, and interest in mining has sparked again. In cities such as Kolowezi, those who have been living in the vicinity of the mine unused after the end of the Belgian reign, found themselves forcibly removed from their homes as the mining activities restarted and expanded. Multinational companies’ officials made residents sign agreements that were unspecific and vague, meaning that locals did not understand what would effectively happen to them: it being the destruction and demolition of their homes. Similar human rights violations have happened in other districts connected to other mines as well, with people’s houses being set on fire. Find Amnesty International’s report here.
It is important to reiterate that some people have lost everything: all their belongings, a place where their children were going to grow up, and a house they built themselves. The fear of losing everything again, and not knowing what is going to happen are strongly affecting the Congolese residents as well, who were forcibly evicted from their homes, without any compensation in order for the mining businesses to expand.
Arbitrary detentions and unfair trials silence dissent and critical voices
In the face of these ongoing forced evictions, the political and safety situation at large contributes to the precarious human rights situation in the DRC. Amidst continuous hostilities, unlawful killings and extrajudicial executions, Amnesty International reports a shrinking civic space, including a crackdown on dissenting voices and those critical of the government. With governmental forces’ involvement in extrajudicial executions and unlawful killings, a climate of impunity dominates the country, oftentimes rendering thorough investigations and accountability absent. Journalists and activists critically reporting on these events, questioning authorities’ official accounts of unlawful killings, or engaging in protests and voicing their dissent, have been facing unfair trials and arbitrary detentions. The enactment of laws curtailing freedom of expression, especially the one of the press and media, adds to a pattern of arbitrary detentions and unfair trials.
Journalists and activists unlawfully detained and/or tried include:
a) King Mwamisyo & Elias Bizimungu,
two activists of the citizens’ movement LUCHA, arrested in April and September 2022 on charges related to the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly in a peaceful manner. Amnesty International sees them as ‘prisoners of conscience’ facing trumped-up charges after they voiced their criticism of the military and police authorities’ failure to protect civilians and their complicity in human rights violations. See Amnesty International’s campaign for their release here.
b) Claude Lwaboshi Buhazi, Faustin Ombeni Tulinabo & Serge Mikindo Waso,
all of which are peaceful activists and members of the citizen movement, Jicho la Raiya (The Eye of the Citizens), were arrested when they were preparing their participation in a peaceful protest critical of road taxation and the management of the health district. They were subsequently accused of defamation and ‘malicious accusation’ against the then-head of the health district, detained, and imprisoned. See Amnesty International’s campaign for their release here.
c) Stanis Bujakera,
a journalist, charged with ‘forgery’, ‘spreading rumours’ and ‘disseminating false information,’ although he was not the published author of an article alleging the involvement of military intelligence services in Chérubin Okende’s abduction and murder (a former minister and opposition leader who was found dead in his car; official investigations and accountability are still lacking). When his trial began, he faced a possible 15-year prison sentence. He was denied provisional release various times and remained detained. See Amnesty International’s campaign for his release here.
After almost 7 months of unlawful imprisonment, he was released on 19 March 2024 thanks to national and international pressure and mobilization. On X, he thanked Amnesty International, among others – ‘My release is the result of the incredible momentum of individuals driven by justice, who have joined forces to defend press freedom and fight against injustice.’ (translated) His case thus also shows the value and impact of human rights efforts and campaigns.
These cases present examples of activists and journalists unlawfully detained after voicing criticism of government’s failures to protect human rights and authorities’ complicity in human rights’ violations. Amnesty International further calls attention to the fact that because of the state of siege announced on 3 May, civilians have been tried before military courts and tribunals. Under international human rights law, this measure is highly contested and a potential violation of the guarantees of a due process and fair trial, enshrined in Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which the DRC is a state party and which is thus binding on it. In its General Comment No 32, the UN Human Rights Committee which monitors the implementation of the ICCPR, states that trials before military tribunals may raise serious concerns about the equitable administration of justice, threatening impartiality and independence.
Conclusion
The situation in Rafah, Sudan, and the DRC highlight the ongoing and dispersed human rights violations that continue to plague our world. While "All Eyes on Rafah" draws significant attention to the plight of Palestinians under Israeli aggression, it is imperative to also shine a light on the crises unfolding in Sudan and the DRC. These regions, although geographically distant, share a common thread of human suffering and systemic injustices that demand urgent international attention and intervention.
The DRC faces a multitude of human rights challenges. The convergence of forced evictions driven by multinational mining interests, arbitrary detentions, and the suppression of dissent illustrate a landscape where human rights are systematically undermined. The forced removal of communities to make way for mining operations not only strips individuals of their homes and livelihoods but also epitomizes the broader exploitation of natural resources at the expense of local populations. The arbitrary detention of journalists and activists, coupled with unfair trials, further silences the voices needed to bring these issues to light and hold perpetrators accountable.
The situation demands a multifaceted response. At the international level, states and entities must exert pressure and hold the Congolese government accountable for its human rights violations. This includes urging the government to uphold the rule of law, ensure fair trials, and protect freedom of expression. Furthermore, multinational corporations with mining interests in the DRC have a responsibility to ensure their operations do not displace communities or contribute to human rights abuses. Transparency and fair compensation for affected communities are crucial. In order to document abuses and advocate for Congolese citizens, human rights organizations must be supported in their work, allowing for impartial reports on the subject that raise awareness and help promote action and support.
Global solidarity and sustained advocacy are crucial in pressuring governments and multinational corporations to uphold human rights and adhere to international laws. By amplifying the voices of those affected and supporting initiatives that seek justice, we can contribute to a global movement that challenges impunity and upholds human rights for all. Our eyes must remain not only on Rafah but also on Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and all places where injustice prevails.
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