Kinshasa, April 2025 – The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has officially launched a multi-stakeholder consultation framework to support the implementation of its landmark 2022 Law on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, through a Ministerial Order by the Ministry of the Interior, Security, Decentralisation and Customary Affairs, signed on 2 April 2025.

Spearheaded by Congolese organisations such as the Dynamique des Groupes des Peuples Autochtones (DGPA), with support from Rainforest Foundation UK, the initiative marks a pivotal step towards making the law a lived reality for Indigenous communities across the country.

The framework brings together 118 entities, including government institutions, Indigenous representatives, civil society organisations and international partners, to coordinate efforts and provide strategic guidance for the law’s implementation.

“This marks a new chapter for Indigenous rights in the DRC,” said Patrick Saidi, National Coordinator of the DGPA. “For the first time, Indigenous peoples are formally involved in shaping the processes and policies that affect their lives. This is a stepping stone we must now build on.”

While the adoption of the 2022 law was acknowledged as a historic breakthrough, its implementation has progressed slowly. Many stakeholders have stressed the need for sustained efforts and resources to translate this law into practice, especially as discrimination, stigmatisation and other forms of abuse remain a widespread reality for Indigenous people in the country.

The consultation framework represents a critical step forward. However, further measures are needed to ensure land rights, self-determination and the full inclusion of Indigenous peoples in forest governance – especially as the DRC positions itself as a key actor in global climate and biodiversity efforts.