Title: Nineteen Congolese citizen movements call for urgent action against the worrying security situation in eastern DRC
Introduction :
Nineteen Congolese citizen structures recently took a stand against the worrying security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These organizations include LUCHA, Filimbi, Veranda Mutshanga, and others. In a joint statement, they call on the Congolese government to take urgent measures to end military operations in the region and the presence of the East African Community (EAC) force which is suspected of collaborating with the M23 rebellion. . These movements also underline the need to accelerate the process of withdrawal of the UN mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, in the face of the heinous crimes committed by the armed groups.
Concrete actions for peace and stability:
Citizen movements are calling on the Congolese government to relaunch military operations against armed groups such as M23/RDF, ADF, and CODECO. However, they insist on the need to purify the army by removing officers and soldiers suspected of human rights violations, collusion with armed groups and trafficking.
At the same time, citizen structures are calling for the urgent implementation of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Reintegration and Stabilization Program (PDDRC-S). This program aims to provide an effective and secure exit route for combatants from local armed groups who wish to lay down their arms. Citizens’ movements also stress the need to replace the former war criminal responsible for the program, Tommy Tambwe, with serious and credible people.
Dissociate from the EAC and accelerate the process of withdrawal of MONUSCO:
Citizen organizations are also calling on the government to permanently dissociate itself from the East African Community (EAC) and to put an end to the presence of its regional force in the DRC. They accuse this force of collaborating with the M23/RDF rebellion instead of fighting it. Moreover, they urge the government to speed up the process of withdrawing MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, whose mandate is deemed ill-suited to deal with the most heinous crimes.
A call to action for peace and security:
Congolese citizens’ movements are sending a strong message to the government asking for concrete actions to restore peace and stability in eastern DRC. They call for a reinforced coordination of military operations, the disarmament of armed groups, the purification of the army and the strengthening of programs for the reintegration of combatants. They also call for a permanent severance of ties with the East African Community (EAC) and an effective withdrawal of MONUSCO.
Conclusion :
The security situation in eastern DRC remains worrying and Congolese citizens’ movements are determined to act to restore peace and stability in the region. Their call for urgent government action to end military operations against armed groups and the presence of the East African Community (EAC), as well as their request for the strengthening of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Reintegration and Stabilization Program ( PDDRC-S), demonstrates their commitment to a peaceful future for the DRC. Now is the time for the government to respond to this call and take concrete measures to guarantee the security of the populations in the east of the country