Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, regarding the situation in the Kasaï provinces, Democratic Republic of the Congo
I am deeply concerned by numerous reports issued over the past several months alleging serious acts of violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in the Kasaï provinces. There have been reports of violent clashes between local militia and Congolese forces, a large number of killings of both civilians and non-civilians, kidnappings and summary executions, including of United Nations experts on mission and their support staff. Such acts could constitute crimes within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
I remind all parties concerned that we opened an investigation in the DRC in 2004, and that my Office continues to carefully monitor the situation throughout the Congolese territory, including the current situation in the Kasaï provinces.
I call on all parties to refrain from resorting to violence. I urge the competent DRC authorities, in accordance with the principle of complementarity, which lies at the heart of the Rome Statute of the ICC and which confers on States Parties the primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute, to take all measures required to conduct genuine investigations so as to shed light on the alleged acts of violence and bring to justice those involved in perpetrating the criminal acts documented in the Kasaï provinces.
I further urge the government to resolutely implement and follow-up on the measures announced so that justice is done, and to take the appropriate steps to prevent the subsequent commission of such acts.
I recall that our work continues in the DRC. I shall not hesitate to take action if acts constituting crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC are committed and to take all necessary measures to prosecute those responsible in accordance with the principle of complementarity.
The Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC conducts independent and impartial preliminary examinations, investigations and prosecution of the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Office has been conducting investigations in: Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Darfur (Sudan), the Central African Republic (two separate investigations), Kenya, Libya, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Georgia. The Office is also conducting preliminary examinations relating to the situations in Afghanistan, Colombia, Guinea, Iraq/UK, Palestine, Nigeria, Ukraine, Burundi and Gabon.
Natungisami mingi mpenza na barapports ebele oyo ezali koloba ete mobulu makasi mpenza ezali kosalema uta basanza ebele na kati na mboka République Démocratique ya Congo (RDC), mingi mingi na kati ya bituka bya Kasaï. Basango ezali koloba ete mobulu ezali kosalema kati ya babundi bitumba bana ya mboka ena na mapinga ma ekolo Congo, bobomi bwa bato ebele bozali kosalema, bacivils na ba oyo bazali bacivils te, bokangi bato na makasi na bobomi bwa bato ebele oyo basambisami te, na kati na bango ba nganga mikanda ba Nations Unies oyo bazalaki kosala mosala kuna na bato oyo bazalaki kotambola na bango elongo. Makambo oyo ekoki kozala mbeba oyo ezali na nse ya bokonzi ya Cour Pénale Internationale (CPI).
Esengeli nayebisa lisusu baye banso bazali na kati ya makambo oyo ete tobanda boluki bilembo na mboka RDC na mbula 2004, banda wana Bureau na ngai ezali kokoba na kosenzela na bokebi bwonso lolenge makambo mazali na etando mobimba ya mboka Congo, na kati na yango mpe oyo ezali kosalema na tango oyo na kati ya bituka bya Kasaï.
Nabiangi biteni binso batika kosala mambi maye matali bobomi batu na makasi. Nazali kosenga na bakonzi oyo bazali na makoki na kati ya mboka RDC, engebene na mobeko mwa kosungana oyo ezali na moboko mwa Statut ya Roma ya CPI, oyo ezali kopesa na Bikolo bokonzi ya liboso ya kolandela mpo na kokanga mpe kopesa etumbu, bazua makoki maye masengeli koselema mpo ete boluki bilembo bwa solo bosalema mpo ete mwinda emonana na kati ya mobulu wana mpe kofunda na bosembo ba oyo bazali kosala makambo wana ya bobuki mibeko oyo ezali koleka na kati ya bituka bya Kasaï.
Nazali mpe kosenga na mbula matali bakoba na kotia molende makasi na kati ya bobongisi mpe kolandela mikano miye milobamaki mpo ete bosembo bosalema, mpe kozua makoki manso mpo na kopekisa makambo ya boye esalema lisusu te na mikolo mizali koya.
Nazali kozongela lisusu koloba ete mosala na biso na mboka RDC mozali kokoba. Nakozela hata moke te kosala soki makambo ya mbeba oyo ezali na kati ya bokonzi ya CPI esalemi mpe nakozua makoki manso oyo esengeli mpona kolandela kufunda na bosembo bato nyonso oyo bazali kosala makambo wana na nzela na mobeko mwa bosungani.
Bureau ya Procureur ya CPI esalaka mosala ya kotala liboso, ya koluka bilembo na ya kofunda mpo na mbeba ya génocide, mbeba ya bobomi bato ebele na mbeba ya bobomi bato na kati ya bitumba na lipanda lionso pe kokotela moto moko te. Bureau ya Procureur ezali na tango oyo kosala mosala mwa koluka bilembo na mboka Ouganda, na République Démocratique du Congo, na Darfour (Soudan), na République Centrafricaine (boluki bilembo na makambo mibale ekeseni), na Kenya, na Lybie, na Côte d'Ivoire, na Mali mpe na Géorgie. Bureau ezali mpe kosala misala ya kotala bilembo liboso na makambo etali mboka Afghanistan, na Colombie, na Guinée, na Iraq/Royaume-Uni, na Palestine, na Nigéria, na Ukraine na Burundi, mpe na Gabon.