The bloc advocates for “a sustainable political solution” and addressing the “underlying causes” of the conflict between the Army and the M23
BRUSSELS, Jul 5 () –
The European Union (EU) welcomed on Friday the two-week humanitarian truce agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) army and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, which have been locked in conflict for more than a year, and expressed its hope that it could lead to a permanent ceasefire in the east of the African country.
The office of the High Representative of the EU for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has applauded “the efforts of the United States” towards this agreement and has highlighted “the commitment of the DRC and Rwanda” towards the materialization of the pact.
“We hope that this humanitarian truce will lead to a permanent ceasefire and allow for the construction of a sustainable political solution in the context of the Luanda and Nairobi processes,” he said, referring to the peace processes being held in Angola and Kenya, respectively, in an attempt to reach a political solution to the conflict.
The statement said that “the dramatic humanitarian situation in the region highlights the growing need to immediately end the violence” and added that “it is also imperative to demobilize all armed groups and end any support to them.”
He therefore insisted that, in line with its strategy for the Great Lakes region, the EU “reiterates the importance of addressing the underlying causes of the crisis and fostering cooperation between countries in the region”, while stressing that it remains prepared to “support efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and promoting sustainable development” in this part of the continent.
Hours earlier, US National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson had announced the agreement for this humanitarian truce in eastern DRC, where fighting between the army and its allied militias and the Kigali-backed M23 has forced 6.9 million people to flee their homes since October 2023, according to United Nations data.
The truce came into effect early this morning and will last until 19 July, a period during which both parties have agreed to “silence their weapons” to allow the voluntary return of displaced persons and to facilitate the work of humanitarian workers, and is based on the measures agreed last November between the governments of Rwanda and the DRC.
The agreement was announced nearly a week after DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa rejected any kind of dialogue with Rwanda, accused of supporting the rebels, given that Kinshasa does not want to hold talks with “the aggressors”, after Rwandan President Paul Kagame said the country is “prepared” to go to war with the DRC if there is no other option.
The M23 is a rebel group made up mainly of Congolese Tutsis and operates mainly in North Kivu province. Following a conflict between the DRC and the group from 2012 to 2013, a peace agreement was signed in December between the DRC and the group. In these clashes, the Congolese army was supported by United Nations troops.
The group launched a new offensive in October 2022, which intensified from November onwards, triggering a diplomatic crisis between the DRC and Rwanda over their role in the conflict and raising concerns in the region about the possibility of a conflict breaking out between the two countries.
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