A group of Congolese citizens has formally requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) to examine allegations of serious human rights violations that they claim were committed by individuals or groups associated with the administration of President Félix Tshisekedi.
The request was submitted to the Office of the ICC Prosecutor on July 10, 2026, through the complainants’ legal representatives. It outlines 11 incidents that allegedly took place in different parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 2024 and 2026.
The complaint refers to several alleged abuses, including the deaths and injuries reported at Makala Prison in Kinshasa following a failed prison escape in 2024. It also cites alleged killings and violence against civilians in Lubumbashi, Kolwezi, and other areas of the former Katanga Province.
Request for a Preliminary Examination
Rather than seeking the immediate prosecution of government officials, the lawyers are asking the ICC Prosecutor to review the information under Article 15 of the Rome Statute.
This provision allows the Prosecutor to receive information from individuals or organizations and decide whether there is enough evidence to open a formal investigation.
At this stage, the ICC has not launched an investigation and has not brought charges against any individual.
The Prosecutor must first assess the material submitted before deciding on the next course of action.
Allegations Raised by the Complainants
According to the complaint, some of the alleged abuses were carried out by people or groups said to have links with the government, including Force du Progrès, a youth movement often associated with the ruling UDPS party.
Lawyer Hervé Diakiese also argues that remarks made by certain public officials and government supporters may have encouraged rhetoric capable of increasing ethnic tensions.
The complainants say they sought the intervention of the ICC because they believe the Congolese justice system would not be able to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the allegations.
Government Response
The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has not yet publicly commented on the submission.
In previous cases involving similar accusations, however, authorities have denied any responsibility for, or tolerance of, human rights abuses against civilians.
What Comes Next?
The ICC Prosecutor will now determine whether the allegations fall within the Court’s jurisdiction, whether they are sufficiently serious under the Rome Statute, and whether national authorities in the DRC are unable or unwilling to genuinely investigate the alleged crimes.
For now, the submission remains a request for legal review. No official investigation has been opened, and no government official or institution has been formally charged by the International Criminal Court.
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