the European Union urges M23 terrorists to lay down their arms

[Congo]

At the end of the joint political dialogue organized on June 13, 2022 in Kinshasa, the European Union (EU) “urges” M23 terrorists to lay down their arms and abandon all the areas it occupies.

According to the joint communiqué sanctioning these meetings;, the EU reaffirms, moreover, its “deepest” attachment to sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC. The stakeholders in this dialogue also, according to the same source, condemned the actions of national and foreign armed groups (ADF, CODECO, FDLR, M23, RED-TABARA…).

JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE DRC-EU SECTORAL POLICY DIALOGUE ON PEACE AND SECURITY

Government Hall

In accordance with Article 8 of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement signed in Cotonou in 2000 and point 24 of the Joint Communique of the third session of the DRC-EU Political Dialogue of September 30, 2021, the first high-level sectoral political dialogue on peace and security was held face-to-face in Kinshasa on June 13, 2022.

This session was attended by Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the European Union and its Member States (hereinafter “the European Union”) present in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the one hand, and members of the Government and other Congolese personalities, on the other hand.

The opening of the dialogue was made by His Excellency Christophe Lutundula Apala Pen’ Apala, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The dialogue focused on the assessment of the individual and joint commitments made by the parties on issues of peace and security; and the outlook for the coming months. Discussions also focused on priority projects/programs in line with the Government’s 2021-2023 Action Program, included in the updated National Strategic Development Plan (PNSD), and benefiting from the support of the European Union.

Addressing each of the dimensions,

1. The parties welcome the respect of the commitment relating to regular follow-up exchanges of the political dialogue through the holding of this first high-level sectoral dialogue;

2. The Congolese Government fully appreciates the actions undertaken jointly, thanks to the European and bilateral cooperation of its Member States;

3. The European Union reaffirms its deepest attachment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

4. The parties strongly condemned the actions of national and foreign armed groups (ADF, CODECO, FDLR, M23, RED TABARA, etc.) and its consequences on the security and humanitarian situation in certain territories of the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including recent attacks by the M23 group against the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and MONUSCO troops. The European Union urges the M23 to lay down their arms and abandon all areas they occupy.

5. The European Union reiterates its calls on all armed groups in eastern DRC, national and foreign, to renounce violence, dissolve definitively and lay down their arms immediately, without any conditions. It supports justice efforts against the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity, who must be judged and not integrated into the security forces.

6. The European Union has expressed its full and complete solidarity with the Congolese people who are victims of the inhuman abuses and violence of the armed groups and has expressed its support for the commitment of the FARDC and MONUSCO in the fight against these armed groups.

7. The parties recognize that a military option alone cannot bring lasting peace to the Great Lakes region. They therefore advocate an integrated approach capable of tackling the root causes of conflicts (economic, social, etc.) in order to break the cycle of violence.

8. The European Union welcomes the initiative launched by Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo within the framework of the Community of East African States, known as the Nairobi Process, in its dual political and military aspects. The parties reiterate their desire to see the European Union work with the countries and their partners in the region on concrete and lasting solutions for a stable and prosperous Great Lakes region. The European Union invites all the signatory countries of the Communique of 21 April 2022 on the Nairobi peace plan to become actively involved in its implementation and to avoid anything that is likely to hinder the peace process.

9. The parties also commend the efforts of the African Union and the President of the Republic of Angola, Joao Lourenço, also President of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, to foster a climate of dialogue and a peaceful settlement of differences between the countries of the region.

10. The parties note with satisfaction the adoption of a national strategy for demobilization, disarmament, community recovery and stabilization (DDRCS) and stress the importance of its decentralized operational implementation. They express the desire for close collaboration between them and the other parties involved, in compliance with national law and international conventions to which the Democratic Republic of Congo has subscribed, particularly in terms of criminal prosecution for sexual violence, crimes of war, and crimes against humanity.

11. The parties welcome the first steps towards a national transitional justice strategy and the European Union renews its commitment to support it in coordination with the other stakeholders, in particular the National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH) and the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO).

12. The European Union welcomes the political commitment of the Congolese authorities to security sector reform and encourages their continued implementation. The Congolese Government appreciates the European Union’s recommitment to supporting the Congolese security forces and hopes that this will continue and be strengthened within the framework of the new projects jointly identified in the areas of the army, police and justice. On this subject, the European Union expresses the hope that the state of siege decreed by the President of the Republic in accordance with Article 85 of the Constitution in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu will allow the restoration of peace and the normal functioning of the provincial institutions concerned with strict respect for human rights.

13. The parties welcome the improvement of mining governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the implementation of the European regulation concerning the responsible supply of minerals (3T and gold). They nevertheless insist on the need to continue efforts to fight against the illicit trafficking of minerals and call for greater firmness both at national and international level against operators and individuals involved in illegal networks of resource looting. The European side invited the Congolese side to share its recommendations for the revision of the European regulation in 2023.

14. They also recalled their attachment to international humanitarian law, the humanitarian mandate, the protection of civilians, the security of humanitarian actors and their access to populations, in accordance with Congolese law and the international commitments of the DRC, including during the state of siege.

15. The parties emphasize the fundamental nature of respect for the rule of law, the proper administration of justice and the strengthening of the fight against impunity, in particular with regard to the perpetrators of violations and attacks on human rights. They deplore that, despite the efforts of the Congolese Government, cases of violations and attacks on rights and freedoms persist. They undertake to cooperate with a view to their eradication and reaffirm their mutual commitment to pursue and support the necessary reforms in the justice sector.

16. As decided during the third session of the political dialogue, the parties will meet in October 2022 for the 4th Session of the Political Dialogue to assess the implementation of their commitments and plan regular follow-up exchanges, including this dialogue sectoral is part.

17. The Congolese Government and the European Union welcome the smooth progress of the work of this first sectoral dialogue on peace and security.

18. The meeting took place under the co-chairmanship of His Excellency Christophe LUTUNDULA APALA Pen’ APALA, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, with the participation of several members of the Government:

· Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Security, Decentralization, Customary Affairs: Mr. Daniel ASELO OKITO WA KOY;

· Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals: Mrs. Rose MUTOMBO KIESE represented by her Director of Cabinet, Mrs. Pélagie EBEKA MUTANGI;

· Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs: Mr. Gilbert KABANDA KURHENGA represented by General Isidore KAUMBU YANKOLE, Secretary General for Defence;

· Minister of Human Rights: Mr. Albert-Fabrice PUELA;

19. On the European side, the co-chairmanship was ensured by the Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union, His Excellency Jean-Marc CHÂTAIGNER, with the participation of Mrs. Aude MAIO-COLICHE, Head of Division of the European Service for external action, and Ambassadors and Chargé d’Affaires:

· German Ambassador: Mr. Oliver SCHNAKENBERG;

· Ambassador of Spain: Mr. Carlos ROBLES FRAGA;

· Ambassador of Greece: Mrs. Calliope DOUTI;

· Czech Ambassador: Mr. Karel HEJC;

· Ambassador of France: Mr. Bruno AUBERT;

· Ambassador of Italy: Mr. Alberto PETRANGELI;

· Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Netherlands: Mrs. Evelien BOERSMA;

· Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Portugal: Mr. Francisco MEIRELES;

· Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Belgium: Mr. Thomas STEVENS;

· Political Counsellor of the Embassy of Sweden: Mrs. Matilda SCHEDWIN.

Done in Kinshasa, June 13, 2022

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