While welcoming the latest report by the UN panel of experts on the security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the European Union said it was “deeply disturbed by its findings”, in a statement by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell issued on 31 December on behalf of the EU27.
The report accuses Rwanda of having delivered arms, ammunition and uniforms to the armed movement M23 and mentions “substantial evidence” of “direct intervention by Rwandan defence forces on DRC territory”.
“The EU strongly urges Rwanda to stop supporting the M23 and to use all means to put pressure on the M23 to comply with the decisions taken by the EAC [East African Community; Ed.] and at the mini-summit on peace and security in the eastern region of the DRC in Luanda on 23 November 2022”, said Borrell.
The EU also “strongly urges all states in the region to prevent any support to armed groups active in the DRC”.
It reiterates its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries in the region and strongly condemns any support to local or foreign armed groups. The EU notes the lifting of the notification requirement for arms deliveries to the DRC government.
It states that it is “prepared to support the stabilisation and sustainable development of the eastern part of the DRC and the region by all means at its disposal, on the basis of a renewed strategy for the Great Lakes, which is currently being finalised”, (see EUROPE 13062/9). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)