AU warns DRC, Rwanda to quell military tension in Eastern DRC

 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The African Union Peace and Security Council has expressed “grave  concern” over the increased tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda following the flareup of fighting in Eastern DRC.

At a ministerial-level meeting, the PSC, the African Union's more  influential peace organ, encouraged DRC and Rwanda to prioritize peaceful means of addressing the challenges between them.

A statement issued by the PSC commended the efforts of João Manuel Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, and Chair of ICGLR and AU Champion for Peace and Reconciliation, for facilitating dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda.

It urged the two parties to continue extending their cooperation and collaboration to the efforts of the Facilitator; and requested the AU Commission to enhance its support to the efforts of the Facilitator; 

It strongly condemned the “heinous attacks by the M23, which resulted in the loss of lives, injuries, and displacement”, especially women and children, and warned that those concerned would be held accountable for their actions.

It also strongly condemned the activities of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which have worsened the insecurity and suffering of the population in eastern DRC.

It demanded the M23, ADF and FDLR, other armed and terrorist groups operating in eastern DRC to immediately and unconditionally cease their attacks and permanently disband and lay down their arms.

It called for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of  M23 from Minova, Sake, and Goma, and other occupied areas in the DRC, and all other foreign armed and terrorist groups operating in the DRC, in line with the Communiqué of the Mini-Summit of Luanda of 23 November  2022, while emphasizing the need for respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo.   

The statement unequivocally condemned any foreign military support being provided to M23 and any other armed group operating in eastern DRC and demanded the immediate cessation of such support and the immediate withdrawal of any such external party from the entire Congolese territory.

It further condemned support provided by military forces to specific armed groups, in particular the FDLR, and demanded the immediate cessation of such support. 

It urged the signatories of the August 2024 Ceasefire Agreement and the "Harmonized Plan for the Neutralization of FDLR and their Disengagement" of November 2024, adopted under the auspices of the Luanda Process to implement the aforementioned Agreements and to urgently and unconditionally return to dialogue.

It  called on the two parties to return immediately to the Luanda Process under the facilitation of H.E. João Manuel Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, the Chair of ICGLR and AU Champion for Peace and Reconciliation, and resume the Nairobi Process.

It stressed that there could be no military solution to the current situation in the eastern DRC.

It. Commended the gallantry of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) troops, while expressing  condolences to the families and governments of the deceased and South Africa, Malawi, United Republic of Tanzania and Uruguay, for the loss of their troops, and to the Government and people of the DRC, for the loss of the Interim Military Governor of North Kivu; and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

It stressed the need for the implementation of the outcome of the Quadripartite Summit of the EAC, ECCAS, ICGLR, and SADC, under the auspices of the AU, held on 27 June 2023, in Luanda, Republic of Angola, and underscored the imperative of enhanced coordination of efforts within the framework of the Quadripartite Mechanism; in this regard.

It urged the AU Commission to urgently convene a follow-up Quadripartite meeting on the implementation of the commitments made during the first Summit of the Quadripartite. 

It called for respect and adherence to International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law, the protection of civilians, internally displaced people (IDP) camps, and medical sites, and the protection of peacekeepers, noting that attacks against civilians and peacekeepers constitute war crimes.

It noted with concern the deterioration of the dire humanitarian situation in eastern DRC and demanded rapid, unimpeded, and safe humanitarian access while appealing to the international community, particularly the UN humanitarian agencies, to enhance their efforts in the mobilization of resources.

It appealed to international partners to upscale humanitarian assistance in Goma and surrounding areas, ensuring access to food, medical supplies, and shelter, in particular to women, children, the elderly and people living with disabilities.

The PSC requested the United Nations and the AU Commission to continue to provide support to the SAMIDRC; 

It called on all stakeholders to embrace and promote dialogue and reconciliation as a way of putting an end to violence and, in so doing, ensure the participation of women, youth, as well as religious, and traditional leaders in the process; 

It condemned the attacks on Diplomatic and Consular Missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a blatant violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, and Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963, and in this regard, called upon the authorities of the DRC to protect all Diplomatic and Consular Missions, and to undertake investigations on these developments with the view to holding those responsible to account;

It underscored the need to address the structural root causes and drivers of the conflict in eastern DRC, including through supporting socio-economic empowerment programmes aimed at economically empowering the population, especially the women and youth. 

It mandated the AU Commission to immediately deploy a fact-finding mission on the ongoing crisis in eastern DRC within the context of the quadripartite framework and report back to the Council soonest.

It proposed the holding of the PSC Meeting on the situation in eastern DRC at the Head of State and Government level, on the margins of the upcoming AU Assembly in February 2025.

-0-PANA AO/RA 29Jan2025.