IRDH condemns the “Eastern Congo Plan”. – Independent Congo

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The Souminwa Government has a responsibility to stop the gradual occupation of Kivu and the killings aimed at controlling the gold trafficking in Ituri.

Lubumbashi, 30 June 2024

The Institute for Human Rights Research (IRDH) condemned Eastern Congo Project Aims to transform the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into « Eastern Republic of Congo » (Eastern Republic of Congo), covering an area of 764,102 square kilometres, i.e. the area of the former Orientale, North Kivu, South Kivu and Maniema provinces. This horrific initiative is carried out in two ways. First, by providing support in terms of military training, weapons and new military technologies to Rwanda, which has troops stationed in Kivu. Secondly, the “Congolese Development Cooperation” and “Zairean” militias traffic gold and other strategic minerals from Ituri to Uganda and Rwanda, killing civilians with impunity. The Institute recalls that it is the responsibility of the Soumingwa Government to strengthen the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) to put an end to these criminal activities that threaten the territorial integrity of the Congo and the lives of its people.

In fact, on this day commemorating the 64th anniversary^Egypt On the anniversary of the independence of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Rwandan army has just annexed the cities of Kanyabayonga and Kayina to the rest of the North Kivu it occupies. This move shows the determination of Rwandan President Paul Kagame to return to the Congolese border. IRDH recalls that at the Cairo Summit in July 1964, African Heads of State and Government adopted Resolution AHG/RS 16 (1), declaring the protection of existing borders when African countries gained independence and the application of the intangible principle to demarcate borders within the framework of the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union).

Despite the fact that there are numerous UN reports on Rwandan military activities aimed at destabilizing the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the “M23” label, the policy of Western powers seems to be waiting for the results of the “M23” project. Eastern Republic of Congo », Eastern Republic of Congo ».

Catch. In January 2024, the United States completed a seven-month training of officers and soldiers of all levels of the Rwandan Armed Forces at the Nasho military base in the Kirehe district of Eastern Rwanda Province, on the border with Tanzania. The US support for the Rwandan army includes new technologies and military training. The matter dates back to 1994, when Ugandan Army Major Paul Kagame and other senior officers received military command training at Fort Ravenworth in Kansas, USA. The United Kingdom also participated in the training of Rwandan officers. For example, in November 2022, Ian Kagame, the son of the President of Rwanda, and 320 other young officers received elite training at the Royal Academy Sandhurst in Berkshire, UK. As for the European Union (EU) strategy, it includes strengthening the “Rwanda 2050 Vision”, which includes an agreement on the purchase of strategic minerals. Although some people accuse the Democratic Republic of the Congo of systematically plundering these minerals.

The UN Group of Experts’ January 2024 report complements their previous June 2023 and December 2022 reports on Rwandan and Ugandan military activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the label “M23”. Rwandan officers trained in the United States and the United Kingdom passed on the same training to the “M23” terrorists. The report states that in early May and early June 2023, the “M23” forces received training at the Gako Military Academy in Bugesera District, Eastern Province, Rwanda. Since September 2023, the Rwandan army task force responsible for coordinating military operations in North Kivu has intensified the training of the leaders of the “M23” movement in strategy, the use of new technologies, and logistical support. However, when Kanyabayonga was captured on June 29, the number of Rwandan soldiers was greater than that of M23 soldiers from the National Defense Congress or the RCD. The Rwandan army brought new military equipment to North Kivu, including Galil assault rifles (Israeli), heavy and light machine guns, different types of rocket launchers, grenade launchers, recoilless rifles, and night vision equipment.

The United Nations also emphasizes the ambiguous role played by Uganda in the DRC, while claiming joint operations against ADF terrorists. Public opinion also remembers the condemnation of the FARDC by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni, who has been appointed Chief of Staff of the Ugandan Armed Forces since March 2024. Moreover, he tweeted that he would ally with his “uncle Paul Kagame”, despite the difficulties.

IRDH Ugandan soldiers in charge of tracking the ADF are handing over the captured bases to new recruits under the label “M23”. A certain Ndeze Samuel, based in Arua (Uganda), will help recruit young men from Aru and Mahagi (DRC) and transport them to Uganda to bring them back in small groups to Kivu, the region around Beni in the north. Mr. Ndeze is one of the leaders of the Ituri militia “Forces Armées pour la Populaire de Congo (FAPC)”, founded in 2003 and led by General Jérôme Kakwavu Bukande (UN sanctions/2005).

In Ituri, despite the organization of intercommunity dialogues by the military authorities and the implementation of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Plan (PDDRC-S), more than 100 people died and hundreds of thousands were displaced in the first half of 2024, resulting in clashes between the CODECO militia and Zaire in DJUGU and IRUMU.

The battlefields of the Ituri war remain around the gold mining sites, especially the site of Bado, the Bendre mining site of the Musaba group, the villages of Logibua, Bianda, Bata in Djugu (believed to be the stronghold of the CODECO militia, led by a certain “Charité” who lives in Jiba). In Irumu, fighting often takes place in the villages of Lodjo-Gangala, Soba, Nyamamba, Mbogi, Ofay, Tchabi and in the place called Café (believed to be the stronghold of the Zairian militia, led by a certain marine who lives in Prieto). A large number of people were displaced, spreading into the bush around the villages of Prieto and Monwaru.

Ultimately, IRDH condemned the plan to split the Democratic Republic of Congo, led by Rwanda and Uganda, which Western powers did not explicitly support. Eastern Republic of Congo » is detrimental to Congo’s interests. Therefore, the Institute recommends that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo use all means of self-defense and self-determination to defend its people and national territory. It is his responsibility to strengthen the front-line strength of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Given that Rwanda and Uganda benefit from military training programs and support for their economic development from the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, these donors should pressure the first municipalities to abandon their plans to split the Democratic Republic of Congo. Splitting Sudan in two creates more problems than it solves.

Contact: Maître Hubert Tshiswaka Masoka, Director General, IRDH.

Tel: +243851103409, Email: tshiswaka@hotmail.com