Kinshasa, August 2, 2026 (TOP243NEWS) –On the occasion of the National GENOCOST Commemoration Day, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, accompanied by the First Lady, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, paid tribute on Sunday at the GENOCOST Memorial in Kinshasa, in the presence of survivors, victims’ families, and senior national officials.
During a solemn and reflective ceremony, the Head of State honored the millions of Congolese who have fallen victim to armed conflict and atrocities committed over the past decades.
Deeply moved by the testimonies of survivors, President Tshisekedi stressed that « no human life should ever be reduced to a statistic, » emphasizing that every victim represents a unique story, a family, and a dignity that must never be forgotten.
He underscored that the day of remembrance is « neither a call for hatred nor an invitation to revenge, » but rather an appeal for resilience, truth, and justice.
« The Republic stands united, in silence, reflection, and dignity, to honor the memory of the victims, » he declared.
Addressing the security situation in eastern DRC, President Tshisekedi strongly condemned the violence attributed to the AFC/M23 rebels, whom he said are backed by Rwanda.
He denounced what he described as « a deadly enterprise driven by a logic of conquest and predation, » arguing that it undermines the country’s sovereignty, threatens its territorial integrity, and deprives Congolese citizens of their fundamental right to live in peace.
Warning against the dangers of historical denial and the trivialization of atrocities, the President called on both the Congolese people and the international community to safeguard collective memory.
According to him, remembrance must become « a shield against the recurrence of atrocities, » adding that « memory cannot merely be a reflection on the past. It is a demand of the present and a responsibility toward the future. »
To institutionalize this memorial policy, President Tshisekedi announced the launch of the operational phase of the National GENOCOST Museum, envisioned as an internationally oriented scientific institution dedicated to preserving archives, documenting crimes, and transmitting this history to future generations.
On the social front, the President instructed the government to include funding for the National GENOCOST Ownership Strategy in the next national budget, with the aim of providing compensation to survivors.
He firmly stated that « reparations are neither a favor nor an act of public charity. They are an obligation of justice. »
In the same spirit, the DRC’s diplomatic and consular missions abroad will now be tasked with promoting « a diplomacy of memory, truth, and justice » to strengthen international recognition of GENOCOST and raise global awareness of the tragedies endured by the Congolese people.
Concluding his address, President Tshisekedi called for impartial international justice, rejecting any hierarchy of human suffering.
« Justice cannot claim to be universal if it tolerates a hierarchy among victims, memories, or suffering. It becomes truly universal only when it recognizes the equal dignity of every human life, the equal right of every victim to the truth, and the equal right of every people to justice, » he affirmed.
Through this message, the Congolese authorities reaffirm their determination to establish GENOCOST not only as a national duty of remembrance but also as a major international cause for justice, reparations, and global recognition.
Mike Pakoto | TOP243NEWS