Downstream to Kinshasa

In the 2020 documentary *Downstream to Kinshasa*, director Dieudo Hamadi captures a poignant and determined quest for justice. The film centers on the survivors of the Six-Day War of 2000, a brutal conflict in Kisangani involving rebel groups allied with Uganda and Rwanda. For two decades, these victims have organized as the "Association of Victims of the Six-Day War," tirelessly fighting for official recognition of the atrocities they endured and demanding rightful compensation for their devastating losses. After twenty years of unsuccessful pleas and bureaucratic stagnation, the group reaches a breaking point. Exhausted by the lack of progress, they decide to take their destiny into their own hands. The film follows their arduous journey as they travel down the Congo River, leaving their homes behind to bring their grievances directly to the seat of power. Their destination is Kinshasa, where they intend to confront the country’s institutions and finally force the government to acknowledge their suffering. *Downstream to Kinshasa* is a powerful testament to human resilience and the relentless pursuit of accountability. As the group navigates the physical and emotional challenges of their long voyage, the stakes remain high: they are not just seeking financial restitution, but the dignity of being heard. Witness their courageous trek as they demand that the scars of the past no longer be ignored.