Amnesty International has called for investigations into senior military officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for possible crimes against humanity during a crackdown on a protest in Goma on August 30, 2023. The massacre left at least 56 people dead and over 80 injured, with additional reports suggesting the death toll could be higher.
The protest, led by the Wazalendo group, opposed the presence of the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). Amnesty’s investigation found the violence was premeditated, involving deliberate actions by authorities despite no evidence of violent intent by protesters.
Three senior officials identified for potential prosecution include former North Kivu Military Governor Lieutenant General Constant Ndima Kongba, Colonel Mike Kalamba Mikombe, and Major Peter Kabwe Ngandu. Amnesty also criticized flawed trials that convicted six soldiers while failing to address broader accountability.
Amnesty has urged President Félix Tshisekedi to suspend implicated officials, ban military forces from law enforcement roles, and reopen investigations to deliver justice. The organization has also called on the International Criminal Court to examine the killings as part of its ongoing investigations into eastern DRC.
