Deeply concerned by the escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which is causing an increasing number of forced displacements and “the alarming and deteriorating humanitarian situation”, on Thursday 24 November the European Parliament strongly condemned “the ongoing brutal aggression by armed groups” and called on the EU and the international community to increase their humanitarian aid to the victims in the region.
In a joint resolution by five political groups (EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and ECR) adopted by a show of hands, MEPs call on all parties to allow and facilitate humanitarian access to all people in need.
Parliament says EU humanitarian aid should help vulnerable people, such as victims of sexual violence, and improve the social determinants of health. The EU is also called upon to continue to increase its development assistance.
MEPs call on the M23 to withdraw and disarm, and on all armed groups in the region to rejoin the Inter-Congolese dialogue.
Parliament encourages Rwanda not to support the M23 rebels. The EU and its Member States are called upon to impose sanctions on perpetrators of human rights violations in eastern DRC.
The European Parliament urges the international community to redouble its efforts to eradicate the scourge of sexual and gender-based violence in the region, to protect victims, to end impunity for perpetrators and to ensure that survivors have access to justice, reparations and redress.
The resolution also calls for the future EU strategy for the African Great Lakes (see EUROPE 13062/9) to adequately reflect the many serious humanitarian and human rights challenges, particularly in the DRC.
See the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/49b (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)