THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE GREAT LAKES (ICGLR) REGION FIRMILY CONDEM THE RESUMING VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH-KIVU PROVINCE OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC)

The Executive Secretariat of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Regions (ICGLR) is deeply concerned about the resuming of the violence related to the negatives forces in the North-Kivu province in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), specifically in the districts of Masisi and Rutshuru since April 2012.

Several elements of the ex-rebel movement, the People’s Defense National Congress (CNDP) which has been integrated into the National Army of the DRC (FARDC) following the 2009 Goma Peace Agreement had decided to mutinate from the FARDC and since then, they are conducting several attacks in the North-Kivu province, raping, killing, stilling, burning villages and recruiting children in schools and send them at the frontlines.

In the night of 13 to 14 May 2012, following a deadly attack attributed to the Democratic Alliance for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), one of the prominent negative forces in the region, against the population of Kamaniga village, in the Sector of Bunyakiri (Kalehe district), South Kivu province. This attack against the village had caused severe casualties among the local communities. The survivals of the tragedy, very frustrated and disappointed for being totally left without any protection against the various armed groups operating in the region, had conducted a punitive attack against a UN peacekeeping position stationed in Kanamiga, wounding 11 among whom, 7 in are in a critical condition.

The ICGLR Secretariat firmly condemns the massive human rights committed by all negative forces in the North Kivu province by the various illegal armed groups. The insecurity generated by the military operations related to these armed groups had caused deaths, massive rape cases, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), Refugees, etc. Several villages had been burnt, and children abducted and sent by force on the frontlines.

During his official visit to Uganda and Rwanda the last week, the ICGLR Executive Secretary met with Senior political and military officials of both countries, both countries having being the signing members of the ICGLR Pact on Peace, Security, Stability, Development and Regional Integration in the Great Lakes Regions.

He highly appreciated the efforts deployed by the DRC and Rwanda in collaborating to ensure that peace and security prevail in both countries. He encouraged all ICGLR member states to act commonly in the spirit and the framework of the Pact.

The ICGLR Executive Secretariat encourages the countries of the Great Lakes Regions as well as the International community to strengthen their support to all the victims of the political instability in the North-Kivu province, especially for the vulnerable groups including the Victims of Rape and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, IDPs, Refugees, etc.

In the same perspective, the ICGLR Executive Secretariat had highly appreciated the outcomes of the joint meeting between DRC-Rwanda on the Security issues in the North-Kivu province which took place in Rubavu (Gisenyi/Rwanda) on 12 May 2012.

The meeting, chaired by the Ministers of Defense of the two countries, issued a statement indicating the commitments of both countries to immediately conduct joint verifications at their common borders, but also, within each one of the countries. The two countries also decided to develop a common operational plan against the negatives forces in the region, among which the FDLR. During the meeting, the Government of Rwanda also committed to continue providing support to the DRC’s efforts in rehabilitating and maintaining Peace and Security in the Eastern part of its territory.

The ICGLR Executive Secretariat recalls that the renegate General Bosco Ntaganda, who is re-engaged in massive Human rights abuses in the DRC North-Kivu province has been a subject to an warrant for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity including Rape, recruitment and used of child soldiers in Ituri by the Movement of the Congolese Patriots (UPC) which was headed by Thomas Lubanga, since then detained at The Internal Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, and who’s indictment has recently been confirmed on the same charges.

The Executive Secretariat strongly believes that arrest of Bosco Ntaganda and other criminals who are still committing massive human rights abuses in the Eastern part of the DRC would send a very strong message to the entire region. Such a move could strengthen the existing efforts in fighting impunity, in rehabilitating the Victims of Rape and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). It could also assist in implementing and strengthening the Zero Tolerence against the perpetrators of the Human Rights violations and concretize the Fight against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Great Lakes Region.

The ICGLR Executive Secretariat seize this opportunity to reiterate its commitment to work in close collaboration with all existing actors in order to ensure that the 2006 ICGLR Pact on Peace, Security, Stability, Development and Regional Integration is fully implemented in the Great Lakes Region.