While in the Democratic Republic of Congo, after the fall of Goma, the pro-Rwandan rebels of Movement 23 March continue to move forward from north to south Kivu, up to Bukavu, with almost no counteraction from the Congolese Armed Forces , in Strasbourg the pressure is growing from MEPs in order to terminate mining agreements with the Rwanda.
The occupation of the richest city of the DRC province and of other Congolese places
by the M23 and the Rwandan Strategic Defense Forces provoked an unanimous condemnation by the European Parliament but until now not a severe stance has been taken against Kigali, accused of having armed the rebels. This unacceptable violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the RDC was the subject of a resolution taken last Thursday, with 443 votes in favour, 4 against and 48 abstentions. MEPs highlighted not only the seriousness of the events, but also the need to resume humanitarian operations, prosecute responsibles for war crimes and support ongoing peace processes.
An expanding humanitarian crisis
The humanitarian situation in North Kivu appears increasingly critical, with indiscriminate attacks, sexual violences and war crimes perpetrated by all parties involved. The testimonies speak about forced labor, forced recruitment and others abusive practices by M23, supported by the Rwandan army. In this context, it is essential that the humanitarian organizations can resume their activities. The immediate reopening of Goma airport and the creation of humanitarian corridors are essential in order to guarantee assistance to thousands of vulnerable people.
Withdrawal of Rwandan troops and suspension of the EU-Rwanda agreement
The resolution of the European Parliament stands out for its incisive appeal to Rwandan government to withdraw its troops from Congolese territory and stop all sort of cooperation with M23 rebels. In this context, it also requires the immediate suspension release of the memorandum of the EU on sustainable value chains of raw materials with Rwanda. The concern is concentrated on the export of minerals from areas controlled by the M23, which contribute to perpetuating the conflict e the instability in the region.
The European Parliament has urged Ia DRC and Rwanda to prosecute responsibles for war crimes, in particularly the sexual violence used as a weapon of war. The request of responsible investigations resonates strongly in a context where the justice appears increasingly distant. Any attack on United Nations forces is to be considered a crime of war, and the international community must keep their attention on these atrocities.
The Luanda and Nairobi peace processes
At the same time, the Parliament underlines the importance of supporting the processes of ongoing peace, especially the Luanda and Nairobi’ processes The acceptance of SADC Joint Peace Summit e of the EAC represents an opportunity to start a meaningful dialogue between countries in the Great Lakes region. It’s crucial that the DRC and Rwanda actively collaborate to achieve a peaceful and lasting resolution of crisis. It is to be hoped that the appeal of European Parliament to stop the violence, promote justice and guarantee humanitarian assistance can push the international actors involved in the conflict to commit more to a cease-fire.
The situation in the Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo requires the attention and action of the entire international community . Only through a collective commitment we will be able to hope for a future of stability and peace for this region tormented by a war that caused the death of 12 million people in the last 20 years.
