On Thursday 3 April, MEPs adopted by a show of hands a resolution condemning human rights violations by Rwandan-backed rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and targeted attacks against Christians, against a background of “alarming continuing violence” caused by the advance and occupation of territory in eastern Congo by the M23 rebel group and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), according to a press release.
The European Parliament urges the Rwandan government to withdraw its troops from the DRC and to stop cooperating with the M23 rebels. It is also calling for an immediate ceasefire in the region.
MEPs condemn the targeted terrorist attacks against Christian communities in the east of the DRC and demand an immediate end to the violence. “The flagrant human rights violations committed by the M23, the ADF and other stakeholders are crimes against humanity” and the perpetrators should be brought before the International Criminal Court.
The European Parliament also reiterates its call for the suspension of the EU/Rwanda Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Minerals in order to stem the flow of illicit funding to armed rebel groups (see EUROPE 13603/11).
Further information: https://aeur.eu/f/g8x (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)