MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the massacres in eastern Congo

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), notably those of 9 July 2015[1], 17 December 2015[2] and 10 March 2016[3],

–  having regard to the statements by the EU Delegation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the situation of human rights in the country,

–  having regard to the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2014, adopted by the Council on 22 June 2015,

–  having regard to the UN Security Council resolutions on the DRC, in particular resolutions 2198 (2015) on renewing the DRC sanctions regime and the mandate of the Group of Experts, and 2277 (2016), which renewed the mandate of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) for a year,

–  having regard to the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the DRC, of 27 July 2015,

–  having regard to the statement of 9 November 2015 by the President of the UN Security Council on the situation in the DRC,

–  having regard to the UN Secretary-General’s reports of 9 March 2016 on the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC and on the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region,

–  having regard to the Council conclusions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo of 23 May 2016,

–  having regard to the statements by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), and by her spokesperson, on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular those of 25 January 2015 and 12 October 2015,

–  having regard to the local EU statements of 21 October 2015 on the human rights situation in the DRC,

–  having regard to the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region, signed in Addis Ababa in February 2013,

–  having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,

–  having regard to the EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict,

–  having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of June 1981, ratified by the DRC,

–  having regard to the Cotonou Agreement,

–  having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the persistent humanitarian and military crises in the DRC have already caused the death of an estimated 5 million people;

B.  whereas the security and human rights situation in the DRC continues to deteriorate in the eastern part of the country, where dozens of armed groups remain active, with constant reports of abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law, including targeted attacks against civilians, widespread sexual violence and systematic recruitment and use of children by armed groups;

C.  whereas, in the North Kivu province, foreign and domestic armed groups, including the Congolese army (FARDC), continue to commit sporadic massacres of civilians, often on ethnic grounds and with total impunity;

D.  whereas in early May 2016 more than 50 people, including children, were brutally murdered in Beni, raising the estimated death toll in the region to more than 600 since October 2014; whereas many villages in the eastern territories are now occupied by the armed groups;

E.  whereas growing discontent is being voiced at President Kabila’s inaction and silence in the face of these atrocities, which are alleged to be perpetrated by both rebel armed groups and state military forces;

F.  whereas it is vital to find a political solution to the crisis in eastern DRC, so as to consolidate peace and security in the country, as well as in the Great Lakes region as a whole;

G.  whereas humanitarian actors estimate that 7.5 million people are currently in need of assistance; whereas the ongoing conflict and military operations have caused the internal displacement of 1.5 million people, and forced 500 000 to flee the country;

H.  whereas the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported increasing kidnappings and attacks on aid workers and convoys, which have forced humanitarian organisations to delay the delivery of aid and suspend their activities;

I.  whereas schools are continuing to be used for military purposes, as occupation sites or as places of recruitment;

J.  whereas, as regards sexual violence, the UN has highlighted significant action on the part of the Congolese authorities, including 20 trials in recent months which have found 19 army officers guilty of rape; whereas, however, sexual violence rates in the DRC are still ranked among the highest in the world;

K.  whereas the Congolese army and the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) are present in the region with the aim of maintaining stability, fighting the rebel armed forces and protecting civilians;

L.  whereas the 2014-2020 National Indicative Programme for the DRC, with EUR 620 million in funding under the 11th European Development Fund, prioritises strengthening governance and the rule of law, including reforms of the judiciary, police and army;

M.  whereas the next presidential and legislative elections are due to be held in November 2016 and will mark the end of the second of President Kabila’s two constitutionally mandated terms; whereas he has been accused by his opponents of trying to delay the election and remain in power beyond this date; whereas this has caused growing political tension and aggravated unrest and violence across the country;

N.  whereas access to and exploitation of natural resources continue to play an important role in fuelling the conflicts in the DRC and the region;

1.  Is deeply concerned by the current security and human rights situation in eastern DRC, which remains highly volatile, with continuous attacks against the civilian population by the various armed groups; reiterates that there can be no impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and demands that a thorough, independent and transparent investigation be launched by the DRC authorities and international partners into the massacres in North Kivu;

2.  Reiterates its call for all parties to the conflict to put an immediate end to the violence, lay down their arms, release all children from their ranks and promote dialogue towards a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the conflict;

3.  Further recalls that the neutralisation of all armed groups in this region will strongly contribute to peace and stability, and calls on the government of the DRC to make this and safety in the North Kivu territories a priority;

4.  Reminds the Congolese Government of its responsibility to guarantee security across its territory and to ensure the protection of its citizens; urges the authorities, therefore, to take all necessary measures to put an end to the persistent conflict in eastern DRC and to restore the state’s authority;

5.  Acknowledges the efforts made by the Congolese authorities in the fight against impunity, although progress remains too slow; insists that those responsible for violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law, including the abduction and recruitment of children in armed conflict and sexual violence against women and children, must be brought to justice and held accountable; welcomes in this regard the adoption of the law implementing the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the National Assembly in December 2015;

6.  Reiterates its deep concern regarding the alarming humanitarian situation in the country caused in particular by the violent armed conflicts in the east; calls for the EU and its Member States to maintain their assistance to the people of the DRC in order to save lives and improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable sections of the population;

7.  Condemns all attacks against humanitarian actors and impediments to humanitarian access; urges all parties to the conflict to respect the independence, neutrality and impartiality of humanitarian actors;

8.  Stresses that the successful and timely holding of the elections will be crucial to the long-term stability and development of the country; urges the DRC authorities to expressly commit to respecting the Congolese Constitution and to guarantee an environment conducive to transparent, credible and inclusive elections; insists on the government’s responsibility to avoid any deepening of the current political crisis and to respect the political rights and security of its citizens;

9.  Recalls the commitment made by the DRC under the Cotonou Agreement to respecting democracy, the rule of law and human rights principles; urges the EU to intensify its dialogue with the DRC and to focus its development cooperation on building better governance and improving the weak military, police and judicial system in the country;

10.  Calls on the international community, mainly the African Union, the EU and the DRC’s neighbouring countries, to ensure a permanent political dialogue between the countries of the Great Lakes region, in order to prevent further destabilisation; regrets that only limited progress has been made in the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework, and calls on all parties to contribute actively to stabilisation efforts;

11.  Invites the EU to send an observer to evaluate the humanitarian situation and alert the international community to the massacres;

12.  Welcomes the renewal of MONUSCO’s mandate and the reinforcement of its competence in the field of civilian protection, including gender-based violence and violence against children as cross-cutting issues; further welcomes the appointment of Maman Sambo Sidikou as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and head of MONUSCO, and reaffirms its full support in the implementation of MONUSCO’s strong mandate in support of human rights and the rule of law;

13.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the African Union, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Government and Parliament of the DRC.