History of the DRC's Commitment to the Recognition of Ecocide as an International Crime
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is home to approximately 62% of the Congo Basin’s forest cover, forming part of the second largest tropical rainforest on the planet. This vital ecosystem sustains the livelihoods of over 80 million people, plays a crucial role in global carbon sequestration and shelters extraordinary biodiversity, making the DRC a pivotal force in maintaining global environmental stability. In addition to its rich natural heritage, the DRC holds abundant mineral resources—such as cobalt, copper, lithium, gold, and tantalum—that are essential for the global energy transition.
As the country seeks to harness these assets for sustainable development, it also faces complex environmental challenges, including the need to strengthen regulation and ensure that resource use respects ecosystems and communities, in the light of first-hand knowledge of the consequences of environmental destruction. These realities underscore the importance of robust legal frameworks and international cooperation to protect nature while promoting responsible and equitable development.
In this context, the DRC is fully committed to championing the recognition of ecocide as an international crime, to ensure prevention of the worst harms, justice for affected communities, and the safe and long-term sustainability of our planet.
Oct 2024
In October 2024, following the proposal to amend the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to include ecocide as the fifth international crime—led by the island states of Vanuatu, Fiji, and Samoa—the DRC expressed its support through Ms Eve Bazaiba, Minister of the Environment, during COP16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on 29 October 2024.
Dec 2024
In December 2024, Mr Christian Ndongala, Ambassador of the DRC to the BENELUX, spoke at an official side event during the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC.
Professor Taylor Lubanga, National Focal Point for the ICC and Special Envoy to the Head of State, also delivered a speech on 3 December 2024 calling for the recognition of ecocide.
Mar 2025
On 13 March 2025, the DRC co-organised a diplomatic reception for OACPS member states with the Republic of Vanuatu entitled "Advancing Ecocide Recognition: A Diplomatic Initiative for OACPS and COP30" in Brussels.
Jun 2025
On 11th June 2025 an informal roundtable & dinner was also co-hosted by DRC and Vanuatu for coastal and river states in the margins of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice “Recognising ‘ecocide’ at the International Criminal Court to protect the ocean & our common future”.
Jul 2025
Ecocide recognition was included on the agenda of the 36th meeting of the Bureau of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN). The motion proposed by the DRC was presented during AMCEN 20, held in Nairobi from 14 to 18 July 2025.
The legislative initiative led by the DRC aims to complement existing national legal frameworks on environmental protection. This initiative aligns with several regional and continental instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Bamako Convention, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Environmental Management for Sustainable Development.