With six months to go before the general elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the humanitarian and security crisis in the east of the country since the M23 offensive in 2022 is worrying MEPs, who expressed their deepest concerns on Thursday 25 May at a joint meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Development Committee (DEVE).
“The most pressing humanitarian needs of the population cannot be dissociated from the political and security situation”, stressed DEVE committee vice-chair Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana (Greens/EFA, German), announcing that a ‘DEVE’ delegation will visit the DRC in July to assess the security, human rights, development and humanitarian aid situation.
The upsurge in violence has led to the forced displacement of over a million people to Goma, where the humanitarian situation is “dramatic”. MEPs are also “appalled by the recent increase in the number of victims of sexual violence in North Kivu”. Not to mention the recent devastating floods and landslides, which have left hundreds dead and many missing in South Kivu.
On behalf of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Rita Laranjinha noted that the EU supports regional peace processes and is preparing direct support to the Inter-Congolese Dialogue – the political track of the Nairobi process. “Our messages to all actors concerned have always been very clear: any support to armed groups, any unsolicited military support on foreign territory, any collaboration with armed groups is a direct violation of international law and of the multiple commitments made by the countries in the region”.
For the electoral process, the EU calls on all parties concerned, in particular the CENI, but also the Congolese government, political parties and civil organisations to ensure the holding of free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections, she said. And she provided assurances that the EU continues to support the electoral process and will deploy an election observation mission.
The chairman of CENI, Denis Kazadi Kadima, stressed that, despite the establishment of this institution with 28 months of delay, “CENI is keen to organise good quality elections, and this within the constitutional timeframe, that is to say before the end of 2023”. It has developed governance tools to address the institution’s poor reputation.
According to him, the biggest challenge will be to meet the deadlines, due to the political and security risks and the very tight schedule. Accreditation of long-term observers and journalists is underway. Fingerprinting has been improved; Congolese abroad will be able to vote in five countries (Belgium, South Africa, France, the United States and Canada); voter registration has been completed in 4 months (December 2022-April 2023), but it is difficult in the east of the country, he acknowledged. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)