FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2025
Minority Rights are becoming a concern in Eastern DRC
Despite various appeals done by the U.S leaders to urge President Tshisekedi to make possible measures of protecting minority communities in Eastern DRC, the government in Kinshasa has instead continued to support extremist militias, including the genocidal militants of FDLR who committed atrocities in Rwanda in 1994, whose mission has been to continue killing and attacking Tutsi populations in Eastern DRC.
In addition to this, there is a humanitarian crisis whereby people in Minembwe cannot access food and medical assistance like the rest of Congolese in need. For instance, Adele Kibasumba, the president of Mahoro Peace Association in her comment emphasized if they do not die because of bullets, they will certainly die because of hunger and lack of medical attention.
Therefore, it is due to these appalling conditions that U.S.-based nonprofit organizations such as ISÔKO_USA, Mahoro Peace Association, and others are calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the U.S. lawmakers to increase their demand for minority protection in Eastern DRC.
The press release will focus on the following:
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Put pressure on the DRC government to negotiate with all political and nonstate actors, including the M23 rebel group, as a pathway to secure lasting peace in DRC.
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Provide humanitarian aid to all displaced Congolese in need, including minorities in the eastern region.
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Demand an immediate ceasefire and sanction Congolese officials who are inciting violence and hate speech against minorities.
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Negotiate for voluntary repatriation of FDLR militants and the refugees who are in Congo to their home country, Rwanda, or make sure that a disarmament policy is in place to integrate them as civilians instead of arming them to target Tutsi minorities in Congo.
For those to be integrated, there must be a mandate of carrying out positive civic education and citizenry orientations to eradicate hate and bigotry on the minority Tutsi population.
It is in line with the above that ISÔKO_USA, Mahoro Peace Association, and other human rights organizations are inviting you to join a press conference scheduled for Monday, March 17, 2025, at 2 PM EST.
Where: National Press Club
When: March 17, 2025, at 2 PM EST.
Who: ISÔKO_USA and Mahoro Peace Association
Media Inquiries:
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
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Mrs. Adele Kibasumba – Tel: 585-831-1005, Email: mahoropeaceassociation@gmail.com
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Mr. Safari Munyarugendo – Tel: 256-527-3339, Email: isoko.usa2021@gmail.com
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