MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on forced displacement of people as a result of escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

22.11.2022 - (2022/2957(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

Malte Gallée, Pierrette Herzberger‑Fofana, Ignazio Corrao, Bronis Ropė, Francisco Guerreiro, Hannah Neumann, Piernicola Pedicini, Caroline Roose, Jordi Solé, Mounir Satouri, Tineke Strik, Erik Marquardt, Rosa D'Amato, Heidi Hautala
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0507/2022

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0507/2022

European Parliament resolution on Forced displacement of people as a result of escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

(2022/2957(RSP))

The European Parliament,

­_ having regard to  its previous resolutions on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),

 

­_ having regard to the UN Report of August 2010 of the Mapping Exercise, documenting the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed within the territory of the DRC between March 1993 and June 2003,

– having regard the OHCHR-MONUSCO report on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by the Allied Democratic Forces  armed group and by members of the defense and security forces in Beni territory, North Kivu province and Irumu and Mambasa territories, Ituri province, between 1 January 2019 and 31 January 2020 , July 2020,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2017/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 laying down supply chain due diligence obligations for Union importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas,

_ having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 June 2021 establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe,

– having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the Members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part (the Cotonou Agreement),

– having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which was adopted on 27 June 1981 and entered into force on 21 October 1986,

– having regard to the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo, adopted on 18 February 2006,

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

– having regard to the Charter of the United Nations,

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

 

1. whereas hostilities have resumed in Eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); whereas after occupying the town of Bunagana on the border with Uganda since June 2022, armed group of the March 23 Movement (M23) advanced to seize several other towns and localities in the Rutshuru territory during October;

 

2. whereas since 20 October clashes between the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and the 23 March Movement (M23), in the Rutshuru territory, resulted in numerous civilian casualties, massive displacement and the injury of peacekeepers from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO);

 

3. Whereas the resurgence of the M23 relates to the deterioration of the security situation in eastern DRC over the past year, with other armed groups, and at times government soldiers, committing widespread violence, unlawful killings, and other grave abuses putting civilians at greater risk;

 

4. whereas these clashes are leading to the mass displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians, of which 62% are women; whereas the newly displaced people since the resumption of fightings add to the about 200,000 Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) forced to flee their homes since late March 2022 when the latest surge in violence began;

 

5. whereas DRC has one of the highest rates of internal displacement in the world; whereas many women and children live in precarious conditions 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;

 

6. whereas as the security situation in eastern DRC deteriorates, humanitarian access is becoming increasingly more restricted; whereas nearly 27 million people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance in DRC; whereas the ongoing conflicts and military operations have also caused the internal displacement of 5.6 million people; whereas the EU allocated more than €54.4 million for humanitarian aid in DRC in 2022 mainly being directed to the Eastern part of the country and dedicated to food and nutrition, healthcare, water and sanitation, education;

 

7. whereas for the period 2021-2024 the Multi-annual Indicative Programme (MIP) for the DRC allocated €424 million from the NDICI-Global Europe to three priority areas: (i) Governance, Peace, and Security; (ii) Human development; (iii) Alliance for sustainable Development;

 

8. whereas the recent resurgence of hostilities leads to increased tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, which may hinder prospects for peace and stability in the entire Great Lakes region; whereas accusations on both sides accentuate the mistrust and tensions between not only the leaders, but also the communities of these two countries;

 

9. whereas in July 2022, a UN expert Panel provided evidence of Rwanda logistical support to the M23; whereas the DRC expelled the ambassador of Rwanda end of October;

 

10. whereas the Luanda Process started in July and facilitated by Angola aims to mediate between DRC and Rwanda regarding the conflict in Easter DRC;

 

11. whereas the East African Community (EAC), of which the DRC became a member in March 2022, has initiated a two-track process aimed at ending instability in  Eastern Congo: political discussions with rebel groups that have expressed a willingness to surrender, coupled with the deployment of an East African military force;

 

12. whereas Rwandan President Paul Kagame has joined calls for advancing M23 rebels in the DRC to cease fire and withdraw from the territories they occupy;

 

13. whereas, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Congo (MONUSCO), considered one of the largest UN mission in the world with more than 15,000 peacekeepers and present in the country for more than 20 years, did not substantially succeed to stabilise the DRC and end the threat of armed groups in the Great Lakes region; whereas the local populations of eastern DRC have lost credibility and trust with MONUSCO as despite its long lasting presence in the region armed groups keep killing civilians and conquer territory; whereas the UN and DRC agreed on MONUSCO withdrawal from the country by 2024; whereas following attacks against MONUSCO on 26 July, the government of the DRC decided to speed up the mission’s departure to an earlier date;

 

14. whereas human rights defenders and their families are systematically victims of death threats and arbitrary arrests in the Eastern region of the DRC; whereas journalists increasingly face harassment, threats and arrest in the country;

 

15. whereas a resurgence in hate speech targeting people based on their ethnicity has appeared alongside the reinforcement of hostilities the past weeks;

 

16. whereas the UN Mapping Report published in 2010 documented 617 corroborated serious human rights violations in eastern DRC between 1993 and 2003; whereas the report detailed a series of recommendations which have largely not been implemented; whereas impunity remains a serious problem;

 

17. whereas at least 20 people died in heavy rains and landslides in eastern DRC on 18 and 19 November, with most of the victims being reported as being artisanal miners at an artisanal gold mine in the commune of Rubaya, near Goma; whereas artisanal mining is a crucial economic sector for the Congolese population; whereas according to the country’s Ministry of Mines around two million artisanal workers are operating in the DRC, with over a thousand mining sites, in the East DRC only; whereas the artisanal mining sector is largely informal and often vulnerable to the activities of armed groups; whereas large-scale mining often lead in forced expropriation and peoples displacement without any re-settlement nor compensation;

 

 

 

 

1. Is deeply concerned by the resumption of hostilities in East DRC, since 20 October, between the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and the 23 March Movement (M23), which resulted in numerous civilian casualties and massive displacement of populations; calls on all parties to immediately lay down their arms, renounce violence and withdraw from occupied areas;

 

2. Condemns all attacks against the civilian population in Eastern DRC; calls on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians in line with international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including through the provision of unconditional humanitarian access, and safe exit for civilians out of areas affected by hostilities; calls on all military intervention by either regional or national forces to ensure the protection of civilians and prevent further casualties and displacement of populations;

 

3. Condemns all attacks against humanitarian actors; reiterates its concern at the difficult working conditions of humanitarian workers and the insecurity they face in the Eastern part of the country; urges all parties to the conflict to respect the independence, neutrality and impartiality of humanitarian actors;

 

4. Underlines that persistence of current tensions between Rwanda and the DRC with community tensions targeting certain populations risk to turn into unprecedented community violence and the escalation of confrontations that could dramatically impact the whole Great Lake region;

 

5. Encourages country leaders of the DRC and Rwanda to keep having frank and constructive dialogue to find a way out of the conflict and welcome the action started through the Luanda Process to this end;  welcomes the recent support of Rwanda to the EAC facilitator’s call urging the M23 to ceasefire and withdrawal from conflict zones they occupy in Eastern DRC;

 

6. Urges Rwanda to stop its support to M23 rebels and calls for sanctions against Rwanda in conformity with the UN charter; calls for sanctions, against senior M23 commanders to be maintained and expanded to include those newly found responsible for serious abuses, including military and state officials from across the region complicit in the armed group’s abuses; calls on the EU and its Member States to adopt sanctions against perpetrators of human rights violations in Eastern DRC through the Global Human Rights Sanction mechanism;

 

7. Condemns human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law committed by Congolese security and defence forces; urges Congolese authorities to remove from their position security force officers and other executive branch officials reported by the UN and Congolese and international human rights organizations as being implicated in serious human rights violations and to bring them to justice;

 

8. calls for the creation of a formal vetting mechanism as part of the broader Security Sector Reform (SSR) efforts, to investigate on candidates for removal and ensure that security forces act in a manner consistent with international human rights and humanitarian law standards;

 

9. Calls on accelerating the operationalization of an effective Demobilization, Disarmament, and Reintegration (DDR) program and strategy for dealing with armed groups, with long-term, holistic support to deter former fighters from returning to fighting zones; urges authorities to provide critical humanitarian assistance to demobilized fighters currently stationed in DDR camps;

 

10. Calls on the Congolese government to accelerate the implementation of  reforms to ensure better governance, at all levels of the state and society, including public finance and the fight against corruption, and to guarantee sustainable peace and security conditions in Eastern DRC; urges the EU to provide concrete support in these tasks, as set according to the national MIP for the DRC and to regularly report to the European Parliament on the state and results of the implementation of actions in these fields;

 

11. Stresses the urgent need for a revaluation of the UN peacekeeping strategy in DRC in order to be more effective in the future;

 

12. Recalls that armed domestic and foreign rebel groups in eastern DRC compete for access to the mineral trade; stresses the importance to undertake further efforts to cut off financing of armed groups involved in illicit trade of natural resources, including gold or wildlife products; calls on all EU importers of tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold to commit to their obligations under the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation and calls for work to continue at international level to address this matter; insists that this EU Regulation maintains DRC in the list of countries considered conflict-affected and high-risk;

 

13.  Calls on neighbouring countries of the DRC to intensify the controls for illegal smuggling of conflict minerals from the DRC  through their countries; calls on improving artisanal mining conditions, notably through secure access to mining areas and provision of mining licences for artisanal workers, and a fairer distribution of mining sites between artisanal and industrial mining; calls on the EU to promote appropriate systems of cost distribution throughout the entire supply chain with regards to certification and traceability and to promote the diversification of livelihoods, especially agriculture, through the restoration of both biological and economic diversity in areas affected by mining activities;

 

14. Reiterates the demand for a strong and ambitious EU directive on mandatory corporate due diligence and an ambitious international legally binding instrument to cope with human rights, environment and climate obligations; calls on the Commission and the Member States to take the requisite measures against European companies operating in DRC that fail to comply with international standards or that do not adequately compensate victims of human rights violations, including IDPs and indigenous people;

 

15. Calls on national authorities to fully protect freedom of expression, assembly, and association in accordance with international standards; calls on authorities to take all necessary measures to address hate speech no matter to whom it is directed, and to protect journalists and human right defenders against this threat; calls on the international community including the EU to support local initiatives to combat hate speech and discourage communal violence based on identity and stereotypes in order to promote peaceful cohabitation between communities in eastern provinces of the DRC;

 

16. Calls on the HR/VP, EU delegation and EU missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo to increase their visible support to human rights defenders at risk and, where appropriate, to facilitate the issuing of emergency visas, and provide temporary shelter in the EU Member States;

 

17. Urges the international community to accelerate its efforts to eliminate the plague of sexual and gender-based violence in armed conflicts in Eastern DRC, to protect victims, to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators, and to guarantee access to justice, reparations and redress for survivors;

 

18. Calls on the EU to increase its development and humanitarian fundings for the DRC for the programming period 2021-2027, with special attention to its Eastern region in order to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable sections of the population, including women, IPLC, refugees and the internally displaced; calls in particular for the allocation of funds of the Global Europe-NDICI for the establishment of a large-scale programme for mediation, dialogue and reconciliation in Eastern DRC;

 

19. 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, the East African Community, and the President, Prime Minister and Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.