• EN - English
Návrh uznesenia - B9-0198/2021Návrh uznesenia
B9-0198/2021
Tento dokument nie je k dispozícii vo vašom jazyku. Je k dispozícii v inom jazyku spomedzi jazykov uvedených v menu jazyka.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the assassination of the Italian Ambassador Luca Attanasio and his entourage

9.3.2021 - (2021/2577(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Charles Goerens, Malik Azmani, Dita Charanzová, Olivier Chastel, Nicola Danti, Klemen Grošelj, Bernard Guetta, Svenja Hahn, Irena Joveva, Karin Karlsbro, Moritz Körner, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Javier Nart, Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Dragoș Pîslaru, Frédérique Ries, Michal Šimečka, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Ramona Strugariu, Dragoş Tudorache, Hilde Vautmans
on behalf of the Renew Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0173/2021

Postup : 2021/2577(RSP)
Postup v rámci schôdze
Postup dokumentu :  
B9-0198/2021
Predkladané texty :
B9-0198/2021
Hlasovanie :
Prijaté texty :

B9‑0198/2021

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the assassination of the Italian Ambassador Luca Attanasio and his entourage

(2021/2577(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), notably that of 18 January 2018 and of 17 September 2020,

- having regard to the Press Remarks of 22 February 2021 by the Vice-President of the Commission/ High Representative (VP/HR) on behalf of the EU on the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council;

- having regard to the UN Security Council Press Statement of 22 February 2021 on the  Attack against World Food Programme Convoy in Democratic Republic of Congo”,

- having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

- having regard to the African Charter on Human and PeoplesRights,

- having regard to the Charter of the United Nations,

- having regard to the Cotonou Agreement,

- having regard to the Constitution of the DRC, adopted on 18 February 2006,

- having regard to the 31st World Report for 2021 by Human Rights Watch on the Democratic Republic of Congo,

- having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas, according to the Kivu Security Tracker, 152 civilians killings,  61 kidnappings for ransom and 34 cases of abduction have been reported in North - and South Kivu since 1 January 2021;

B. whereas more than 130 armed groups are active in eastern DRC’s North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces; whereas many of their commanders have been implicated in war crimes, including ethnic massacres, rape and forced recruitment of children and pillage; whereas disputes over land and resources, deep-rooted ethnic animosities, militarized informal economy, the ready availability of arms and weak governance are the main causes of the surge in violence;

C. whereas the Congolese security forces conduct operations against armed groups in Eastern DRC, using at times militia as proxy forces against other groups and thus providing them with arms; whereas civilians find themselves trapped in the middle of confrontations between different armed groups;

D. whereas the UN Joint Humanitarian Rights Office in the DRC published a report on 2 February 2021 which documented a significant increase in the number of attacks against the civilian population by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Ituri and North Kivu province; whereas the same report also documented human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law committed by security and defense forces in the context of their operations against the ADF combatants;

E. whereas DRC has one of the highest rates of internal displacement in the world; whereas more than five million people have been uprooted by insecurity within the country’s borders; whereas many women and children live in precarious conditions, sleeping out of doors or in overcrowded public spaces and being exposed to the risk of harassment, assault or sexual exploitation;  whereas displaced populations often receive no basic lifesaving services and are at risk of malnutrition and disease; whereas an Ebola outbreak was declared since 4 February 2021 in North Kivu province;

F. whereas on 22 February 2021, the Italian ambassador to the DRC, H.E. Luca Attanasio, Carabinieri officer Vittorio Iacovacci and their driver Mustapha Milambo were killed during an attempted kidnapping as they were part of a convoy that travelled from the World Food Program’s compound in Goma and while driving at the eastern borders of the Virunga National Park; whereas the attack occurred on a road that had previously been cleared for travel without security escorts; whereas a contingent of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (IICN) which was patrolling near the scene of the attack with a unit of the Armed Forces of the DRC (Fardc) intervened;

G. whereas no armed group has yet claimed this attack; whereas Ambassador Attanasio’s wife, Mrs Zakia Seddiki, claimed in the media that he was “betrayed” by a person close to the family;

H. whereas Virunga national park rangers have been repeatedly attacked and six were killed in an ambush in January 2021; whereas local security forces are under-resourced and poorly trained;

I. whereas Marie Tumba Nzeza, the DRC minister of foreign affairs, said that her government would investigate  the killings;

J. whereas on 12 March 2017, armed men executed two UN investigators – Zaida Catalán and Michael Sharp – while they were documenting human rights abuses in the central Kasai region of the DRC;

K. whereas the Congolese government, as well as the national Parliament and Senate are in a political reshuffle phase with a new Prime Minister, Sama Lukonde Kyenge, appointed on 15 February 2021; whereas on 6 February 2021, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi became chair of the African Union for 2021;

L. whereas the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) mandate expires on 20 December 2021 and the 1533 Democratic Republic of the Congo sanctions regime expires on 1 July 2021;

1. Strongly condemns the killing of Luca Attanasio, Vittorio Iacovacci and Mustapha Milambo and expresses its solidarity with their families; Deplores the loss of life and killings of innocent civilians;

2. Calls on the Congolese authorities to assist with their utmost cooperation and providing full assistance to the Italian and UN investigators in order to bring the perpetrators of the armed attack on 22 February 2021 to justice;

3. Firmly insists that Congolese authorities must step up its efforts to end armed attacks on civilians and must thoroughly, independently, effectively and impartially investigate all the killings and bring those responsible to justice in fair trials;

4. Reiterates its deep concern at the worsening humanitarian, political and security situation in the DRC; Strongly condemns all human rights violations and acts of violence;

5. Considers it a positive step forward that, since 2020, soldiers guilty of rape in the eastern part of the DRC were convicted; Recalls that the perpetrators of the murder of two UN investigators in 2017 are still not brought to justice despite pressure from the international community;

6. Recalls that the violence in eastern DRC is strongly linked to the mineral trade; Emphasises that any business, individual or state or state-related actor contributing to the perpetration of such crimes must be brought to justice; Welcomes the entry into force of the Conflict Minerals Regulation in the EU in January 2021; Stresses the urgent need for further action on mandatory due diligence and responsible business conduct by businesses operating in conflict zones;

7. Calls on the Congolese authorities to urgently set up an effective Demobilization, Disarmament, and Reintegration (DDR) program and strategy for dealing with armed groups, with long-term support to prevent former fighters from returning; Urges authorities to provide critical humanitarian assistance to hundreds of demobilized fighters currently stationed in DDR camps with hardly any food supplies and no adequate medical care;

8. Urges the Congolese authorities to fully commit to ending impunity for past and current serious crimes and to finance adequately military courts and other tribunals adjudicating cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity; Calls on the Congolese authorities to remove security force officers and other executive branch officials from their posts who have been implicated in serious human rights violations;

9. Calls on the Congolese government to ensure better governance at all levels of the state and society, including public finance and the fight against corruption; Stresses the importance of organizing a credible electoral process in 2023 and to guarantee sustainable security in the eastern DR Congo;

10. Calls on the European Union to step up funding for the DR Congo in order to address the severe underfunding of the UN agencies working with local authorities and communities to protect civilians;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the European Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the ACP-EU Council of Ministers and Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament, and the President, Prime Minister and Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Posledná úprava: 9. marca 2021
Právne upozornenie - Politika ochrany súkromia