19 02 13 Christian Aid urges UK government to continue backing UN peace and security deal for DRC
Since
the M23 mutineers withdrew from Goma in December 2012, global attention on the
civil war in North Kivu has diminished significantly. The conflict, however,
continues with regular threats of indiscriminate civilian attacks, strong FARDC
military build-up, and other armed groups taking advantage of the power vacuum
to further expand control over vast swathes of mineral-rich
territory.
This
latest humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC, which began in April last year, has
already displaced more than 860,000 people in the region. Ongoing peace
negotiations between the DRC Government and the M23 rebel group have not brought
about any tangible results, although there is hope that those countries needing
more time to reflect on the broader framework proposed by the UN will commit to
its signing on February 24th.
Recognising
that primary responsibility lies with the DRC Government and regional states
including Uganda and Rwanda, both accused by the UN of backing the M23
rebellion, the United Nations’ ‘Peace Security and Cooperation Framework’ aims
to deal with the underlying causes of recurrent cycles of violence in the Kivus.
It aims to dovetail national, regional and international commitments and actions
to end conflict and reinforce national state structures in the
DRC.
‘Christian
Aid is pleased to hear that the proposed process goes beyond tackling the
symptoms of structural deficits of governance and security in the DRC and the
Great Lakes. It is good news that it includes a strong political component that
will also address the endemic weakness of governance in the DRC, but there needs
to be strong international support including from the UK,’ says Chantal Daniels,
Christian Aid’s senior policy officer for the Great Lakes
Region.
‘This
includes both strong political engagement and diplomatic pressure from the UK,
as well as financial support for reforms.
‘We
applaud the focus on the need for long awaited national reforms of the national
army, police and judicial sector, and the electoral system, as well as the
emphasis on finishing the DRC’s electoral cycle, under the oversight of a UN
Special Envoy. A broad-based and inclusive dialogue with provincial and civil
society, aiming to establish a coherent and shared vision for peace and
stability, is key to success.
‘With
regard to the deployment of an additional peace-enforcing intervention brigade
that will focus on preventing the expansion of armed groups and neutralising and
disarming them, urgent development of demobilisation and reintegration packages
for rebel soldiers is necessary,’ she adds.
Christian
Aid works through local partners with poor communities across the DRC, Uganda
and Rwanda providing emergency assistance to displaced, host families and
returnees, and support and education around sexual violence as a result of
conflict.
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Notes
to Editors:
1.
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3.
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4.
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5.
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