Democratic Republic of Congo Declaration: international crime of ecocide

Summary

October 31, 2024, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) publicly declared its support for establishing ecocide as an international crime — the first African nation to do so. The historic statement was given at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia.

DRC Minister of the Environment stated: “when there is a violation of ecosystems, for those responsible to be punished and held accountable for their actions, and for the destruction of ecosystems to be made a crime recognised under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.” and that “By supporting this initiative, we protect our natural heritage and send a clear message that environmental crimes will not go unpunished.”

This endorsement aligns with the formal proposal from Vanuatu, Fiji, and Samoa to amend the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), reflecting the growing global momentum to secure an international law for the most severe crimes against nature. Ralph Regenvanu, Special Envoy for Climate Change and Environment from Vanuatu, said: “The DRC’s support for the historic proposal from Vanuatu, Fiji, and Samoa represents a decisive milestone in the global mission towards the recognition of ecocide. This gesture not only demonstrates remarkable solidarity from a Central African state towards vulnerable island nations in the Pacific but also a firm commitment to environmental justice at the international level.”