Recent events in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to raise serious concerns. The European Union spoke in a statement, saying it was deeply troubled by certain conclusions of the report of the United Nations group of experts mandated by the United Nations sanctions committee on the DRC.
The deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the country has prompted the EU to express its dismay at the violence and atrocities that continue to be perpetrated with complete impunity against civilians, in particular by armed groups such as the M23, the FDLR/FOCA, the ADF, the CODECO-URDPC group and Zaire/MAPI. Reports of massive sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls are also cause for concern.
Faced with this situation, the European Union strongly condemns these atrocities and calls on all armed groups to put an end to unlawful killings, rapes and other alleged war crimes. It calls for all those responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law to be brought to justice.
With this in mind, the EU welcomes the decision of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to examine the acts committed in North Kivu, at the request of the Congolese authorities. This is an important step towards justice and accountability for the crimes committed.
The European Union also supports the recommendations of the report of the UN group of experts and welcomes the extension of their mandate by the UN Security Council. It is crucial that the international community continue to mobilize to face the security and humanitarian challenges in the DRC and to put an end to impunity.
In conclusion, the European Union expresses its commitment and its solidarity with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in this difficult period. It encourages all parties concerned to work together to preserve peace, protect human rights and promote sustainable development in the country