EU complicity seen in DR Congo atrocities
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported Jan. 17 that the European Union's insufficient action regarding Rwanda's support of the M23 rebels has exacerbated the violence and atrocities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
On Feb. 13, the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging the EU to freeze direct budget support to Rwanda until it ceases backing the Tutsi-led M23 rebels and permits humanitarian access in rebel-held territory of the DRC. The resolution also recommended suspending agreements related to Rwandan strategic minerals until Rwanda halts its interference in Congo. However, this resolution is non-binding, and the European Commission has not enforced these recommendations.
HRW emphasized that the EU's inaction undermines efforts to hold perpetrators accountable and deepens the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region. The M23 rebels, with apparent Rwandan support, have seized key cities in eastern DRC, including Goma and Bukavu, leading to mass displacement and severe human rights abuses. Reports have documented brutal acts such as the execution of children and the rape of women in front of their families.
The EU has expressed concern over the situation. In a statement on Jan. 25, the European Council condemned the M23's advance and Rwanda's alleged military presence in the DRC, labeling the rebel offensive a violation of international law and the DRC's sovereignty. The statement called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged Rwanda to withdraw its support for the M23.
Despite these statements, HRW criticized the EU for not taking concrete actions, such as suspending financial aid or imposing sanctions, to pressure Rwanda into compliance. The organization warned that without tangible measures, the cycle of violence and impunity in eastern DRC is likely to continue, further endangering civilian lives and regional stability.
HRW called on the EU to match its rhetoric with action by implementing the European Parliament's recommendations and ensuring that aid to Rwanda is contingent upon the cessation of support to armed groups in the DRC. The organization also urged the international community to prioritize the protection of human rights and the enforcement of accountability mechanisms to address the ongoing crisis.
From JURIST, Feb. 17. Used with permission.
Note: In February 2024, the EU signed an agreemen with Rwanda aimed at boosting the country's mining sector and contributing to the "transition towards a greener, more sustainable global economy," with an emphasis on such strategic mierals as tantalum, tungsten, gold and niobium. (Xinhua)
See our last reports on the M23 insurgency the struggle for the region's mineral wealth.
Deadly attack on rally in Bukavu after M23 take the city
Grenade blasts at an M23 rally in Bukavu killed and wounded scores of people on Feb. 27 as the civilian toll of the conflict in the eastern DRC mounts. Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, had avoided the kind of violence seen when the M23 took over Goma, the capital of adjoining North Kivu, but the deaths this week show the danger the city is still facing. Corneille Nangaa, the head of the Rwanda-backed M23's political wing, said the grenades were the same as those used by Burundi's army (which has been supporting the Congolese military), while Kinshasa blamed unspecified "foreign" forces. The prime minister of DRC, Judith Suminwa, said some 7,000 people have been killed in the conflict since January, including 3,000 in Goma, though journalists have disputed the accuracy of the Goma death toll, which may have been inflated to suit Kinshasa's interests. Diplomatic efforts to address the conflict are, meanwhile, continuing, with east and southern African countries reportedly considering deploying a new force in M23-held areas, some of Rwanda's Western donors pausing bilateral aid, and the UN Security Council calling on Rwanda to stop its support for the rebels. (TNH)