The security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the electoral process were at the heart of a meeting held in Brussels with the participation of the DRC Ambassador to Benelux and to the European Union. During this meeting, the ambassador discussed several subjects, starting with the situation in eastern DRC, particularly in the province of North Kivu. Although the situation has improved thanks to several ceasefire agreements, several armed groups, including the M23, continue to pose problems. The ambassador called for a strengthening of the effective capacities of the defense forces to deal with it.
The Congolese diplomat also praised the work done by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which was able to remove from the electoral lists no less than three million people. To improve the ongoing electoral process, he proposed setting up a support mission.
The humanitarian situation in the country, particularly in Kalehe, remains worrying. However, one million US dollars has been allocated by the Congolese government, another three million by the UN and one million dollars from China. The contribution of the EU was not mentioned.
Finally, the ambassador asked that Brussels go further in its contribution to peace efforts by taking sanctions against those who destabilize the DRC, in particular against Rwanda, the main coordinator of certain armed groups in the region of North Kivu.
This meeting highlighted the important issues facing the DRC. In addition to the major security challenges, the country must also face electoral and humanitarian issues. The DRC needs the support of the international community to face these challenges