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Rwanda-backed rebels are choking the Congolese people, yet this is one conflict the world can easily end
Vava Tampa, The Guardian, 11 April 2024
Kagame’s regime is funding rape, killings and torture by the M23 militia, who have now cut off the city of Goma. But he can be stopped
The M23 militia group attacked the town of Saké in North Kivu last month, wounding eight UN peacekeepers and sending much of its population fleeing towards the provincial capital, Goma. The fall of the town in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) means the M23 now controls all roads in and out of Goma – and, by extension, critical mining sites and trading networks.
If the M23 wanted to overrun the capital, as it did in 2012, it would have done so by now. So why hasn’t it? The militia would struggle to keep hold of the city without the support of neighbouring Rwanda. Three UN investigations, the latest in December, have concluded that the M23 is armed and supported by President Paul Kagame’s regime. The UN imposed sanctions on the group in February.
It appears the militia is attempting to choke the Congolese people into submission by disrupting movement of goods and people, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid including medicine, food and water to those trapped in Goma. Is Kagame’s plan to force the DRC government into a power-sharing agreement? That would give Rwanda access to and control of critical Congolese mines and business networks in North Kivu.
If more evidence was needed for the west to act to end this violence, then the fall of Saké must surely provide it. The number of M23-related displacements across North Kivu has risen to 1.7 million. Many, including more than 200,000 who have fled in recent weeks, are living in makeshift tents or at the homes of friends or relatives in Goma, which was already home to about 780,000 people, with almost a million more living on its outskirts. Disease is adding to the misery. The World Health Organization documented more than 52,400 cholera cases in the country last year – the highest since 2017. Measles rates have more than doubled, exceeding 320,000 cases, while deaths from the disease have tripled, from 1,800 in 2022 to more than 6,000 in 2023.
The conflict in DRC is different from those in Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen. There is no Russian or Chinese influence on the ground or veto at the UN security council, and there has never been any threat to US, British, European or Canadian citizens or interests. What is happening in DRC is perhaps the only conflict in the world that the international community could resolve relatively simply, costing British, US or EU taxpayers almost nothing. And because we can do so, we must.
The US and UK should back the creation of an international criminal tribunal for the DRC. Congolese people have been calling for this for more than 20 years – in 2003, the then president, Joseph Kabila, made a plea at the UN general assembly, and most recently in 2022 when the government petitioned the UN security council. We have tried everything else, including peacekeepers and peace deals, and the only thing that people and leaders have been asking for is the tribunal. Let’s give it a go.
The world must also immediately end support to Kagame’s regime. The UN, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty are clear that without Rwanda’s backing, the M23 couldn’t have killed, raped, tortured and displaced as many as it has.
We know this works because when the US, UK and others briefly stopped arming and funding Kagame in 2012 – after media coverage – the M23 was defeated and a brutal Rwandan-born warlord called Bosco Ntaganda, nicknamed “the Terminator”, was tried at the international criminal court where he was jailed for 30 years for 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
If Kagame is not stopped, the M23 will turn Goma – and, by extension, South Kivu’s provincial capital Bukavu, which relies on Goma for food and economic activities – into a pressure cooker of disease, starvation and despair that many defenceless Congolese people will not be able to escape.
Radio Okapi, Revue de presse de mardi 16 avril 2024
A la Une de la presse ce mardi 16 avril à Kinshasa, l’armée qui annonce l’arrestation de plusieurs officiers soupçonnés de trahison. Les journaux et médias en ligne reviennent également sur ce rebondissement dans le dossier Chérubin Okende : la famille de l’ancien ministre des Transports, qui rejette la thèse du suicide présentée par la justice, porte une nouvelle plainte.
« Arrestations en série pour trahison : des officiers de l'armée et de la police congolaise détenus à Kinshasa », titre Actualité.cd. Le Général Christian Tshiwewe Songesha, chef d'état-major des Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo, a annoncé lundi lors d'une parade militaire au Camp Kokolo, l'arrestation de plusieurs officiers de l'armée et de la police pour trahison, peut-on lire sur le site d’actualité.
Devant les unités de l’armée et de la police, le chef d’Etat major a déclaré : « Nous sommes en guerre. Il y a ceux parmi nous qui sont corrompus et incités à la trahison, parfois par nos propres politiciens. Des arrestations ont été effectuées à Lubumbashi et ici à Kinshasa. C'est grave. » Aucun chiffre n'a été communiqué, cependant, note le médias en ligne.
Le chef d'état-major a également adressé un message fort aux officiers présents, poursuit le site d’informations, interrogeant leur loyauté, tout en critiquant les acteurs politiques qui seraient impliqués dans des actes de trahison, alors que le pays fait face au groupe rebelle M23 soutenu par le Rwanda.
« A Lubumbashi, des officiers de l’armée et de la police arrêtés pour trahison », titre également l’Agence congolaise de presse, qui se fait l’écho des propos du chef d’état-major des Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo.
« Vous n’avez pas le droit de trahir votre pays. Celui qui le fera le paiera d’une manière ou d’une autre », a prévenu le chef de l’armée, dans des propos relayés par l’Agence congolaise de presse.
Dans un contexte de tension accrue avec les rebelles du M23 dans la province du Nord-Kivu, rappelle Actualite.cd, le gouvernement a annoncé la reprise des exécutions capitales notamment contre les personnes condamnées pour trahison, levant ainsi le moratoire sur la peine de mort instauré en 2003.
Sur la même lancée, Forum des As revient sur cette parade organisée par le chef d’état- major de l’armée.
« Le général d'armée Christian Tshiwewe : nous combattrons jusqu'à la dernière goutte de notre sang », titre le tabloïd.
Les unités des Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) ont été appelées à ne jamais trahir la patrie au cours d'une parade mixte Armée-Police présidée lundi au camp Kokolo à Kinshasa par le chef d'état-major général, écrit le journal. Le général d'armée Christian Tshiwewe, a par ailleurs annoncé l'organisation, le 30 juin, d'un défilé militaire de soutien aux éléments déployés au front, fait savoir le confrère.
La presse revient également sur ce rebondissement dans le dossier Chérubin Okende, l’ex-ministre des Transports retrouvé mort dans sa voiture sur l’avenue des Poids lourds à Kinshasa, en juillet 2023. Alors que la justice parle d’un suicide, cette version est contestée par la famille de l’opposant.
La famille du défunt a de nouveau déposé une plainte au parquet le lundi 15 avril 2024, indique Actualité.cd. Cette plainte vise à établir les circonstances ayant conduit à la mort de l'ancien ministre des Transports Chérubin Okende, peut-on également lire sur le site de l’Agence congolaise de presse. Selon l'avocat de la famille, cité par ce média, un fichier audio partagé sur les réseaux sociaux, apporterait de nouveaux éléments qui contredisent les conclusions de la justice qui avait estimé que le défunt s’était suicidé.
DRC: The VSV demands the unconditional release of pro-democracy activists Bienvenue Matumo and Fred Bauma
The Voice of the Voiceless for Human Rights (VSV) condemns and denounces with the utmost energy the continued detention of pro-democracy activists of the citizen movement Struggle for Change (LUCHA), in this case Bienvenu Matumo and Fred Bauma . The VSV demands their immediate and unconditional release in order to allow them to continue their activities of promotion and defense of human rights.
On another aspect, the VSV welcomes the release of some of their colleagues including, among others, Crispin Tshiya and Jean Paul Mualaba.
As a reminder, All these pro-democracy activists were arrested by security service agents, Saturday February 3, 2024, at the esplanade of the Palais du Peuple in Kinshasa during a rally to commemorate and denounce the 600 days of occupation of the town of Bunagana, in eastern DRC, by M23 rebels.
The VSV is surprised that pro-democracy activists were arrested and illegally detained when they were demonstrating to denounce Rwandan aggression and the occupation of part of the national territory by the M23, perpetrators of numerous massacres and others. massive violations of human rights.
The VSV calls on the Congolese authorities to put an end to these types of arrests, arrests and arbitrary detentions, which nonetheless constitute a step backwards in terms of the fundamental freedoms of citizens, including the freedom to demonstrate.
Ultimately, the VSV demands the immediate and unconditional release of Bienvenu Matumo and Fred Bauma who have not committed any crime.
Done in Kinshasa on February 5, 2024.
THE VOICE OF THE VOICELESS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (VSV)
UN peacekeepers close base in preparation to leave DR CongoThe UN mission has been told to leave due to inefficiency in protecting civilians from armed conflict
People protest against Western partners outside the MONUSCO mission's headquarters in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Justin Makangara/Reuters}
Al Jazeera The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has helped in the fight against rebels for more than two decades, has closed one of its key bases as it prepares to leave the Central African nation this year at the request of the government.The mission, also known as MONUSCO, closed a major base near the city of Bukavu in a ceremony on Thursday attended by Bintou Keita, the head of MONUSCO, along with DRC military and government officials.DR Congo names first female prime minister amid escalating violence.
DR Congo names first female prime minister amid escalating violence
DRC: Judith Tuluka Suminwa appointed Prime Minister - Copyright © africanews © Présidence - RDC
By Afolake Oyinloye, Africa News
President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced the appointment of Judith Suminwa Tuluka as the country's first female prime minister on Monday. This landmark decision fulfills a campaign promise made by President Tshisekedi and marks a significant step towards gender equality in Congolese politics.
Judith Suminwa Tuluka, a former planning minister, assumes her new role at a critical juncture for the nation, particularly in the strife-torn eastern region. The area, rich in minerals and resources, has been plagued by relentless violence, leading to the displacement of millions of civilians and earning the dubious distinction of being one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Addressing the nation in her inaugural speech aired on state television, Prime Minister Tuluka pledged to prioritize peace and development efforts, particularly in the conflict-ridden eastern provinces. She expressed deep concern for the plight of those affected by the ongoing violence and reaffirmed her commitment to finding sustainable solutions to the crisis.
However, Prime Minister Tuluka's appointment comes amidst the arduous task of forming a new government, a process expected to involve extensive negotiations with various political factions. Despite the challenges ahead, her appointment symbolizes a significant breakthrough in Congolese politics and offers hope for greater inclusivity and representation in governance.
The situation in eastern Congo remains dire, with numerous armed groups vying for control and perpetuating a cycle of violence and instability. Both local and international peacekeeping efforts have struggled to contain the conflict, further exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population.
President Tshisekedi, who secured reelection for a second term last December, has reiterated his commitment to addressing the root causes of the violence. He has accused neighboring Rwanda of backing rebel groups operating in eastern Congo, allegations vehemently denied by Rwandan authorities.
The United States has called for restraint from both Congo and Rwanda, urging diplomatic dialogue to prevent further escalation of tensions. Additionally, the U.S. State Department has emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and the withdrawal of foreign troops from Congolese territory.
As Prime Minister Tuluka assumes her new role, she faces the formidable task of steering the nation towards stability and prosperity amidst daunting challenges. Her appointment represents a historic milestone in Congolese politics and underscores the importance of gender equality and women's empowerment in national leadership.
The United Kingdom is deeply concerned by the worsening conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: UK statement at the UN Security Council
President, I’ll make three points.
First, the United Kingdom is deeply concerned by the worsening conflict in eastern DRC. This has resulted, as we’ve heard, the deteriorating humanitarian situation. This has resulted in the large-scale displacement of people from their homes and high levels of sexual violence, including in IDP camps. The United Kingdom has committed $126 million in humanitarian funding to eastern DRC.
Second, MONUSCO’s efforts remain critical. We urge all parties to immediately end attacks on peacekeeping troops. Such attacks undermine MONUSCO’s ability to deliver on its mandate, including to protect civilians and to build the capacity of the DRC’s security forces. We also call on all security parties to coordinate and deconflict their activities. We also emphasise our commitment to a gradual, responsible and sustainable withdrawal. We call on the DRC government, through close coordination with MONUSCO, to assume its protection responsibilities for the civilian population in line with the joint disengagement plan.
Third, the United Kingdom notes with concern the increased tensions between DRC and Rwanda and between Rwanda and Burundi. We have condemned the continued advance of UN-sanctioned M23 Forces and have called on all external actors to end their support for armed groups in DRC. We have engaged Kigali and Kinshasa on the need for dialogue and have urged them to use their influence to de-escalate tensions and to seek a cessation of hostilities. We also encourage both Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi to engage directly with each other to bring an end to the conflict.
In conclusion, President, the United Kingdom welcomes and encourages the continued engagement of the Great Lakes region, including the valuable work of the UN Special Envoy. We commend the efforts of regional leaders to encourage dialogue and de-escalation. We reiterate our support for the Nairobi and Luanda processes and we are encouraged by progress and talks in Luanda. President, there is no military solution to this conflict. We must make every effort to bring the parties back to political processes. The United Kingdom stands ready to support efforts all efforts in this regard.
Thank you.
