Members of the rebel group known as M23 withdrawing from the North Kivu provincial capital of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). (Photo by: UN/Sylvain Liechti)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
UNITED NATIONS – NEW YORK – Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are dangerously on the brink of war amid a resurgence of violence by the notorious M23 rebel faction in eastern DRC. The M23 militia began as a renegade force of army mutineers in 2012, committing atrocities and war crimes. The current offensive against Government forces is reportedly the biggest in a decade. The deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC was the main focus of a UN Security Council briefing Wednesday on the condition of the Central African nation. The Secretary General of the UN supports the decision of leaders of the East African Community (EAC) to dispatch a regional force to the DRC to extinguish the resurgence of violence. Leaders of EAC last this month held a closed door- meeting, 3rd EAC Heads of State conclave on inter-Congolese Dialogue of the Nairobi process in Kenya to discuss the prolonged security crisis in the eastern DRC. Meanwhile, the long simmering rivalry between Uganda and Rwanda in the DRC is pouring gasoline on the highly combustible situation. James Kariu, the United Kingdo Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN said of the situation in the DR Congo:
“The current spike in violence jeopardizes efforts to pursue peace and prosperity, and exacerbates the already severe humanitarian situation. The risk of regional war is the highest it has been for many years,” the UK diplomat said, calling for immediate de-escalation on all sides and a mutual respect for sovereignty.”
The UK diplomat said he welcomed ongoing diplomatic efforts, including through the African Union-endorsed Nairobi process, stressing the primacy of political and diplomatic efforts over military solutions to deliver long-term stability and prosperity. “The United Kingdom is awaiting plans for the proposed East African Community regional force, he said, urging East African Community partner States to engage closely and effectively with MONUSCO to manage the potential risks of parallel military deployments, while learning lessons from the latter’s deployment,” he added.
Richard M. Mills, Jr. United States Deputy Ambassador to the United Nation said:
“The human consequences of violence in the east are horrific, with armed groups in Ituri killing nearly 800 civilians in this month’s reporting period alone. The Democratic Republic of the Congo bears the primary responsibility to protect its own citizens, ” the American diplomat noted, further urging East African Community leaders to prioritize dialogue for crisis. “The deployment of any force must be coordinated with MONUSCO, in line with any existing sanctions, and with notification of the Council. “
United Nations failed to prevent and stop the 1994 genocide:
-Claver Gatete, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda
Claver Gatete, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo at UN world headquarters in New York June 29, 2022. (Photo: UN Photo/Loey Felipe)
Claver Gatete, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council meeting, stating that:
“Rwanda’s commitment to the protection of civilians is informed by the tragic history of the United Nations failure to prevent and stop the 1994 genocide”, he said, calling for a swift and lasting solution to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo to ensure that “that tragic history never happens again in the Great Lakes region”.
DRC Accuses Rwanda Of Supporting M23
The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 and deploying its special forces inside Congolese territory.
RWANDA Ambassador Says this is a big lie
Democratic Republic of the Congo’s “false allegations” that Rwanda backs M23 – “Any such allegations should be reported to the Joint Verification Mechanism for an independent investigation,” Rwanda Ambassador to UN Claver Gatete
He went on to reject the ongoing propaganda narrative that countries of the region want to “Balkanize” the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, statements which are absurd and without basis, and are only intended to divert attention from complex internal issues. He warned that targeting and killing innocent civilians perceived to be Tutsi may have the effect of driving the targeted populations to join local armed groups for protection.
Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Nation said:
“Today, the M23 has a better arsenal of weapons than MONUSCO and FARDC, and can shoot down military helicopters, terrorizing the North Kivu Province and committing other crimes in the east of the country. What explains the reappearance of this group after this long period of absence and who is behind this group? Why the international community and the United Nations do not want to associate that group with Rwanda, .. its origins are well known.”
Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congovat UN world headquarters in New York June 29, 2022. (Photo: UN Photo/Loey Felipe)
“For more than 26 years, my countrymen have been massacred and raped in the name of the illicit and mafia-like exploitation of DR Congo’s resources.”
-Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the UN
The DR Congo diplomat condemned “the criminal aggression of M23 against his country and all its supporters, starting with Rwanda and its President”. He stressed that M23 must leave immediately and unconditionally the Congolese territory.
Cobalt, Coltan, Gold, Diamonds at Center of Rwanda, Uganda, DRC Conflict
-US$25 TRILLION in untapped mineral deposits in DRC
Child Miners, The Dark Side Of the DRC’s Coltan Wealth (issafrica.org)
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is rich in natural resources – its untapped deposits of minerals are estimated to be worth US$24 trillion. Coltan is indispensable to the manufacture of all modern technological devices. Cobalt is an essential mineral used for batteries in electric cars, computers, and cell phones. The DRC is the world’s leading producer of cobalt and has some of world’s biggest deposits of coltan. Some connect M23’s sudden resurgence to both Rwanda and Uganda’s huge financial interests in the DRC and the scramble for its lucrative mineral resources, which are also traded for arms.
UN MONUSCO Director Says Peacekeepers determined to protect civilians in DRC
Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) / (UN Photo Eskinder Debebe)
Bintou Keita, who also heads the UN’s Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO), said peacekeepers under her command were “determined to protect civilians and help tackle drivers of conflict and violence”.
However, she added that “unity of purpose within the Council and among troop and police contributing countries, remains essential for the Mission to deliver on its core mandated responsibilities”.
Madame Keita said it was incumbent upon the Security Council to fully support regional efforts to defuse the current diplomatic and security tensions between neighbouring States and “put an end to the scourge of armed groups”.
“Should the M23 continue its well-coordinated attacks against FARDC and MONUSCO with increasing conventional capabilities, the mission may find itself confronted by a threat that goes beyond its current capabilities,” Madame Keita warns.
She also cautioned that ongoing militia activities in eastern DRC threaten to reverse hard-won progress in security throughout the country and the region.
