The Fonds spécial de répartition et d’indemnisation aux victimes des activités illicites de l’Ouganda en République démocratique du Congo (FRIVAO) has announced the allocation of $120 million for collective reparations in four provinces. The provinces of Haut-Uélé, Bas-Uélé, Ituri, and Tshopo will each receive $30 million. This development was made public by Dismas Kitenge, president of FRIVAO's Conseil d’administration, during an extraordinary session in Kinshasa.
The allocation is part of the ongoing process to indemnify victims of illicit activities by Uganda in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The funds will support community-led projects in the four provinces. According to Dismas Kitenge, the next step involves receiving concrete proposals from beneficiary communities before disbursing the allocated funds. This process aims to expedite the compensation of victims.
The extraordinary session, which began on November 10 and will conclude on November 14, will also review previous resolutions, assess personnel matters, and discuss the finalization of the Mémorial de la guerre des Six Jours à Kisangani. Additionally, projects for constructing modern provincial hospitals in Kisangani, Isiro, and Buta are on the agenda. The session occurs amid heightened expectations from communities affected by past atrocities.
The FRIVAO Conseil d’administration will also examine individual indemnifications in the Tshopo province. An independent audit of 14,800 victim files from Kisangani, which had previously received $2,000 each, will be scrutinized. The audit aims to identify irregularities and ensure the reliability of the indemnification process. Dismas Kitenge urged patience, stating that the process is nearing completion.
The audit report will be submitted for approval by the ministre d’État chargé de la Justice before implementation. Mgr François Mwarabu, coordonnateur national du FRIVAO, emphasized the authorities' commitment to transparency and preventing fraud. The challenge remains in translating financial commitments into tangible reparations for affected populations.
For the concerned communities, the focus shifts from announced funds to seeing these resources materialize into infrastructure and concrete actions addressing their grievances. The FRIVAO's efforts aim to provide durable solutions to victims of past atrocities.
The collective reparations initiative complements previously approved hospital construction projects. The FRIVAO's allocation of $120 million underscores the ongoing efforts to address the consequences of illicit activities in the region. Key discussions will also revolve around the legal and financial implications of a Cour de cassation ruling on the restitution of funds to FRIVAO.
Key points
- The FRIVAO has allocated $120 million for collective reparations in four provinces: Haut-Uélé, Bas-Uélé, Ituri, and Tshopo.
- The funds will support community-led projects, with each province receiving $30 million.
- An independent audit of 14,800 victim files aims to ensure the reliability of the indemnification process in the Tshopo province.
