Humanitarian Truce in DRC: Concerns Over M23 Gains and Displaced Populations

Although the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is under a humanitarian truce right now, the situation is nonetheless terrible because of the notable territory acquired by rebels. During an update to the Security Council on Monday, July 8th, Bintou Keita, the Head of the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), voiced serious worry on the worsening security situation in Eastern DRC.

Eastern DRC’s security situation has kept getting worse and now shows shockingly high degrees of violence and human displacement. Despite several activities carried out by the FARDC, routinely supported by MONUSCO and SAMIDRC, I am quite worried about the fast spread of the Mouvement du 23 mars (M23) in North Kivu and the spill-into South Kivu.

Keita drew attention to the extreme humanitarian disaster under way in the area. “Today the DRC counts 7.3 million displaced persons, 6.9 million of which are in the Eastern regions alone. Violations of international humanitarian law are preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid. She said, “The security of the displaced and resident populations is seriously compromised by the frontlines’ growing proximity and the presence of weapons (including heavy artillery) inside and around displacement camps and spontaneous sites.”

After her briefing to the 15-member organ, Keita went over the disengagement strategy for MONUSCO, which will go into second phase when practical. June 25th marks the end of the first phase. “It’s not exactly where all of us want all of us the things to be; so, we will take time to consolidate what has been done in South Kivu, with the understanding that the government is going to continue to increase its capability, particularly the deployment of the security services,” she said.

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Zenon Ngay Mukongo, the DRC’s Permanent Representative to the UN, underlined meanwhile the DRC’s position on preserving its territorial integrity. “The Democratic Republic of Congo will remain open to a political resolution of the conflict with Rwanda by diplomatic methods while defending its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the security of its people at all expenses. But only if Rwandan soldiers successfully leave Congolese territory to enable real and productive communication will this road be credible, Mukongo said.

Ernest Rwamucyo, his colleague from Rwanda, reaffirmed Rwanda’s support of regional peace efforts. “I want to finish by stressing once more Rwanda’s support of regional projects, particularly the Nairobi and Luanda Peace Processes. Rwanda strongly appeals to the international community to support these regional efforts which concentrate on political solutions, including the need of a political dialogue, and the need to permanently address the FDLR by disarming, demobilizing, and repatriating them to Rwanda, Rwamucyo said.

According to a Monday UN expert study, Uganda purportedly supports M23 rebels—who are claimed to be backed by Rwanda—which This disclosure emphasizes the need of a coordinated worldwide reaction even more since it adds still another level of complication to the already unstable situation in the DRC.