Summary:
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The EU applauds the steps African countries take to solve the problems that led to the war in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
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The EU reiterates its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all regional nations and categorically rejects any assistance from armed groups, whether domestic or international.
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The EU has noted that supplying weapons to the DRC government no longer needs to be reported.
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The EU wants the DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda to follow all of the suggestions in the report.
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The EU is happy that the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) will have more time to keep the peace in the eastern part of the DRC and, by extension, the rest of the region.
The EU applauds the steps African countries take to solve the problems that led to the war in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The EU urges everyone to act quickly on the decisions made through the Luanda and Nairobi procedures, and it says again that it will always support both of them. The EU praises the East African Community (EAC) and the leaders of Angola, especially former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, current Kenyan President William Ruto, Angolan President Joao Lourenco, and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who is in charge of the EAC. The EU supports them in urging all parties to step up peaceful dispute resolution efforts and keep their word on previous pledges.
The EU says again that it supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the region. It also says it will not help any armed groups, whether local or international. Any financial support for these armed groups, unannounced military operations on foreign soil, and breaking the UN sanctions and arms embargo regime are clear violations of regional and international agreements as well as regional and international law. The EU has noted that supplying weapons to the DRC government no longer needs to be reported.
The UN Sanctions Committee asked the UN Group of Experts on the DRC to make a report, which the EU welcomes, is very worried about, and fully backs. The EU wants the DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda to follow all of the suggestions in the report. The EU asks Rwanda directly to stop helping the M23 and to put all of its pressure on the group to follow the decisions made by the EAC and at the Mini-Summit on Peace and Security in the Eastern Region of the DRC in Luanda on November 23, 2022. Additionally, it strongly exhorts all states in the area to forbid giving any support to armed organizations operating in the DRC. The DRC is urged to take all necessary precautions to protect the civilian population on its soil and to put a halt to any cooperation between the FARDC and armed organizations, particularly the FDLR. Any long-term political solution to the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the wider region must include reopened discussions with all local armed groups aimed at securing their commitment to the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Reintegration, and Stabilization Programme.
The EU strongly condemns racism and hate speech and calls for violence against any person or group because of their race or ethnicity. It also wants those who do these things to be held accountable.
The EU is happy that the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) will have more time to keep the peace in the eastern part of the DRC and, by extension, the rest of the region. The EU denounces any form of incitement to violence against MONUSCO.
The EU reaffirms its unwavering support for the people of eastern DRC, who continue to suffer as a result of repeated cycles of violence, abuses of human rights, and human rights violations. Armed groups and the government in the DRC are responsible for a lot of sexual and gender-based violence. This is something that the EU strongly condemns. Armed group activity is making the humanitarian disaster worse, which affects 27 million people all over the country who need help badly.
Based on a revised Great Lakes Strategy that is presently being finalized, the EU is still committed to and prepared to support the stabilization and sustainable development of the eastern DRC and the area.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Council of the European Union.
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