Lane Hartill

Burundi watcher

[Amnesty Eastern Africa @AmnestyEARO]

CMC-FDP maintains remote bases in Bukombo & targets civilians, often at night, or in areas with few M23 fighters. After clashes with M23, CMC-FDP fighters have taken revenge on family members with perceived links to M23.
https://t.co/fGl8oFfxWg

[Amnesty EU @AmnestyEU]

Murder, torture, gang rape, abductions, forced displacement & recruitment of children by M23.

Killings, rape & abduction by Wazalendo (armed groups partly supported by the DRC army).

All documented by the UN & rights organizations, well known to EU officials.

How many more?

[Katharine Derderian @kderderian1.bsky.social @kderderian1]

Painful news from Rubaya

In this statement & last week's Foreign Affairs Council, no sign of urgency on DRC

The elephant in the room:

How this mining disaster occurs amid devastating human rights abuses across eastern DRC - and EU inaction in response.

https://t.co/j4AFpFmuCr

[Katharine Derderian @kderderian1.bsky.social @kderderian1]

Les ministres des affaires étrangères de l'UE discuteront de la RDC aujourd'hui - ils doivent agir avec une urgence à la mesure de la gravité de ce conflit dévastateur

Une diplomatie discrète ne suffit pas-les Congolais ont besoin de vous voir agir. (1/4)
https://t.co/1s96zM93mD

[Amnesty EU @AmnestyEU]

As EU Foreign Ministers discuss the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) tomorrow, they must act with urgency matching the seriousness of this devastating conflict.
Quiet diplomacy is not enough. Congolese need to see you act.
(1/4)
https://t.co/I1sFChIjmJ

[Lane Hartill @LaneHartill]

https://t.co/Rc3zICPZVW

[Kivu Today @KivuToday]

Breaking News:

Historic Legal Challenge Filed Against the DR Congo at East African Court of Justice Over Ethnic Persecution in North Kivu

Arusha / 11 April 2025 — Three Congolese citizens — Masoso Bideri Antoinnette, David Fati Karambi, and Mandro Logoliga Paul — have filed a case before the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) in Arusha, Tanzania, against the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The case, officially registered as Reference No. 17 of 2025, accuses the Congolese government of decades of systematic persecution and marginalization of the Banyamulenge, Hema, and Tutsi communities in North Kivu and Ituri.

This landmark legal action is backed by the Collectif des Avocats des Parties Civiles, a coalition of international lawyers based in Brussels, London, Nairobi, and New York.

The collective argues that the DRC has violated its obligations under the East African Community (EAC) Treaty and international human rights law—including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights—by enabling, supporting, or ignoring grave human rights abuses committed by both state and non-state actors.

According to the official press release issued by the collective on 11 April 2025, the legal action seeks to hold the DRC accountable for:
1.Collaborating with and supporting armed groups responsible for atrocities—including Wazalendo militias, Mai-Mai factions, and the FDLR.
2.Ethnic killings, mass displacement, and ethnic cleansing.
3.Endemic racism and gender-based violence.
4.Persecution through hate speech, propaganda, and denial of citizenship.
5.Systematic destruction of infrastructure such as schools and places of worship.
6.Restriction of movement and access to education and healthcare.
7.Economic blockades and deliberate exclusion from banking and trade systems.

The applicants are calling on the EACJ to:
•Officially declare the DRC responsible for these violations.
•Order reparations to the affected communities.
•Compel the government to guarantee equal citizenship rights, equitable economic access, and enforce measures to prevent the recurrence of such abuses.

The EACJ has formally notified the DRC Ministry of Justice, granting them 45 days to respond.

Failure to do so will result in the court proceeding in the government’s absence.

“We are calling on the international community to give visibility to these long-silenced communities. This is not just a legal case — it’s a cry for justice, recognition, and dignity,” said Innocent Nteziryayo, UK-based lawyer and co-coordinator of the legal collective.

Also speaking on behalf of the team, Bernard Maingain (Brussels), Jean Paul Shaka (New York), and John S. Nyanje (Nairobi) emphasized that the East African Court of Justice must show courage in confronting this long-running crisis, which they say has worsened since the DRC’s accession to the EAC.

The case is being closely followed by human rights organizations across the Great Lakes region, as it could set a precedent for regional justice and state accountability within the EAC framework.

Contacts for Media Inquiries:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: [phone]

@Presidence_RDC @jumuiya @SADC_News @_AfricanUnion @UN @ConstantMutamba @PatrickMuyaya @RDCongoMAE @RealManziWilly @LawrenceKanyuka

[Katharine Derderian @kderderian1.bsky.social @kderderian1]

Urgent reading for all those who care about human rights in DRC 👇

https://t.co/atcD0VKng1

[Katharine Derderian @kderderian1.bsky.social @kderderian1]

“It’s appalling that international diplomats including from the US, European Union & African Union, are shirking their moral & international obligations by not applying direct & consistent pressure on Rwandan & DRC leaders to stop supporting abusive armed groups"-@TigereChagutah

[LUCHA 🇨🇩 @luchaRDC]

À l’approche du Sommet UE–UA à Luanda (24–25 nov.), l’UE a le devoir moral et politique de mettre fin à son inaction en sévissant aussi bien contre ceux qui destabilisent le Congo🇨🇩 que ceux qui bloquent le processus de résolution interne de la crise. 3/3

[LUCHA 🇨🇩 @luchaRDC]

Notre appel à l'UE exige 3 mesures urgentes :
1️⃣ Sanctions contre les criminels du M23–AFC et leurs soutiens rwandais
2️⃣ Pression sur Kinshasa pour un dialogue national sous médiation CENCO–ECC
3️⃣ Lutte contre le blanchiment d’argent et la fuite des capitaux issus dla RDC. 2/3

[Katharine Derderian @kderderian1.bsky.social @kderderian1]

L’inaction de l’UE en RDC tue.

Aujourd’hui, des militant·e·s de @luchaRDC et @amnesty se sont rassemblé·e·s devant le Conseil de l’Union européenne pour exiger que l’@EUCouncil agisse enfin afin de mettre fin aux violations graves des droits humains dans l’est de la RDC.

[Amnesty EU @AmnestyEU]

🇨🇩🇪🇺 EU inaction in DRC kills.

Today activists from @luchaRDC and @amnesty gathered outside the European Council to demand EU act to end horrific abuses in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

[Japheth Biegon, LLD @BiegonJaphet]

#DRC: From 5 June 2000, #Kisangani endured 6 days of bombing by Uganda & Rwanda forces. Civilians were killed, women raped, homes destroyed. Today, @amnesty has released a briefing on the long wait for justice for victims of the 6-day war. https://t.co/dYShHWoGiD

[Amnesty EU @AmnestyEU]

In eastern DRC, Rwanda-backed M23 fighters have gang-raped women, tortured detainees, attacked rights defenders.

@amnesty's @TigereChagutah writes in @euobs how the EU's critical raw minerals deal with Rwanda risks putting profits before Congolese lives.

https://t.co/2Tah1AY3r4

[Amnesty Eastern Africa @AmnestyEARO]

DRC: M23 kill, torture and hold civilians hostage at detention sites – new investigation https://t.co/t9voX2pGa1

[Burundi Human Rights Initiative @BHRI_IDHB]

Our project, @BHRI_IDHB, is coming to an end. Thank you for following us, for reading our publications and for encouraging us. All our reports will remain available on our website: https://t.co/1nL3CTTGdS

[Burundi Human Rights Initiative @BHRI_IDHB]

Les informations sur les violences sexuelles par des combattants de @Red_Tabara ne se limitent pas à un seul témoignage. Le témoignage cité dans notre rapport n’est qu’un exemple. @BHRI_IDHB a recueilli des informations concordantes d’autres sources.