I have concluded my second mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), held from 24 to 26 February 2025.

 

This visit underlined my commitment to further intensify the work of my Office in delivering justice and accountability in the DRC, particularly in the East. This is something we cannot do alone. It will be delivered together with the victims, civil society, affected communities, and national authorities of the DRC that I have met with in the last two days.

 

Upon arrival, I recalled the reactivation of my Office’s investigations in the DRC as announced in October 2024, and sent a clear message to those on the ground: Any armed group, any armed forces, any allies of armed groups or armed forces don’t have a blank cheque. They must comply with international humanitarian law. Through the effective application of the law, we must show that the lives of those in the DRC have equal value as those in all other situations addressed by the ICC.

 

During my visit, I had the honour of meeting with His Excellency President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo. Our discussions were candid and focused on the urgent need to address the grave situation in the eastern DRC, where violence has escalated alarmingly. We reaffirmed our shared commitment to combating impunity and ensuring justice for victims of the most serious crimes.

 

We agreed that to deliver lasting accountability, we must find a new way of doing things. In this spirit, the President reaffirmed his engagement to convene an international conference to be held in April in Kinshasa aimed at delivering a holistic, sustainable and comprehensive solution for justice in the DRC.

Any warlord, any militia leader in any part of the DRC should be on notice that we are looking at new ways to forge a stronger partnership with the DRC. Whether it is the special court that is to be established here, or whether it is the independent work of my Office, justice is a right for all.

 

I was also pleased to again have the opportunity to engage with the Prosecutor of the Cassation Court, the Auditor General of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the First President of the High Military Court, my Office’s judicial partners in the DRC, to further explore avenues for enhancing judicial cooperation and building stronger collaboration to reinforce the trust in the process in order to achieve an impact that will be felt by victims and populations afflicted by these serious ongoing crimes. The meeting with the President of the Constitutional Court and President of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary was another productive exchange focusing on the need for a robust national judicial process, in parallel with my Office’s ongoing investigations to end the long-lasting cycle of violence and impunity in the DRC.

 

My delegation and I met with a group of victims of sexual violence, whose testimonies underscored the urgent need for justice and reparations. In my meeting with H.E. Irène Esambo, Minister of Persons with Disabilities and other Vulnerable Persons, we discussed the importance of addressing the rights and protections for persons with disabilities. I emphasised my Office’s commitment, in line with our corresponding policies published in December 2023, to seek accountability for gender-based crimes and crimes against and affecting children wherever they may arise.

 

During my dialogue with representatives from various NGOs and CSOs, I reiterated my Office’s support to their call for empowerment in fulfilling their mandate, including through the hosting of two thematic roundtables and the development and publication of guidance materials for non-governmental organisations.

My mission to the DRC would not have been possible without the support of MONUSCO and the personal engagement of Ms Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the DRC and Head of MONUSCO, who once again, with her excellent team, provided to me a very insightful overview of the situation. 

 

I am also grateful to Professor Taylor Lubanga, Chargé de mission of the Head of the State in charge of the cooperation with the ICC, and to all authorities for the valuable support provided during my stay. 

As we move forward, my Office remains steadfast in its mandate to uphold justice and accountability. We call upon all stakeholders—victims, witnesses, national and international organisations, civil society groups, and State authorities—to continue their cooperation and support in our collective pursuit of justice.

 

This mission has reaffirmed our collective determination to pursue justice for the victims of atrocities and to hold perpetrators accountable. I am grateful for the warm welcome and the constructive dialogues that have taken place.

Together, through the investigations of my Office and through our collective work to establish a firmer basis for domestic action in the DRC, we will now accelerate our work towards a future where justice prevails, and the rights of all individuals are upheld.