RAPPORT ONU/ Tragédie humanitaire en RDC & agression rwandaise ( Next Century Foundation & Congo Justice)

General Assembly

United Nations

Human Rights Council Fifty-second session

Written statement* submitted by The Next Century
Foundation, a non-governmental organization in special
consultative status
The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is
circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.

» (…) The Democratic Republic of the Congo has immense natural resources, and is home to a
richly biodiverse natural environment of forest and farmland. Meanwhile it is ranked number
179 out of 191 countries and territories worldwide, on the 2021 Human Development Index.
In 2018, over 70% of Congolese – around 60 million people – were living on less than $1.90
per day.
Over the centuries, its resources have been plundered, and its people brutally abused by
invaders. The present situation is no different. This time it is the Democratic Republic of the
Congo’s neighbours who are the invaders, in pursuit of its rich natural resources and fertile
land.
We urge the Council to ensure that action is taken to improve the lives of Congolese people,
and free them from the tyranny of so many human rights abuses. If the Mapping Report were
acted upon, this would be a very good start, to enable communities to move forward with the
more local transitional justice proposals discussed in Resolution 51/36. Unless the past is laid
to rest, progress in the present is almost impossible.
There is a need for the international community to wake up to what is now occurring in the
east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as a direct result of the Global North’s desire
for the minerals located there. We urge the Council to play its part in bringing about a
fundamental change of attitude, so that violent incursions by neighbouring countries in search
of minerals are prevented.
The simplest strategy would be an international boycott of minerals originating from
Rwanda. We urge the Council to give this work the utmost priority. «