Great lakes region call for unity to end DRC crisis

Interstate security experts attending a two-day meeting in Kampala have called for immediate intervention from the international community to end the crisis in Eastern Congo.

On Thursday, the escalating insecurity in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo took centre stage at the ongoing International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Kampala.

ICGLR executive secretary Ambassador Liberata Mulamula warned that the insecurity could have a spill over effect and destabilise peace and development in the entire region if no action is taken.

“As you are all aware, the security situation in Eastern DRC has continued to worsen. It pains me to inform you that over the last two months, the fighting in Eastern DRC has systematically worsened the already alarming humanitarian situation in the area,” Ambassador Mulamula said.

“Simply put, Eastern DRC is in a heart wrenching crisis that calls for the urgent intervention of the international community,” the Ambassador said. His statement was read by Mr Stephen M. Singo, the programme officer for peace and security at the ICGLR secretariat based in Bujumbura.

ICGLR wants the international community to push for the implementation of the various regional frameworks put in place to resolve such problems. Several agreements include:  the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the GLR and the protocol on Non Aggression and Mutual Defence.

“These instruments carry obligations which if implemented would forestall any possible aggression,” Ambassador Mulamula and called for diplomatic pressure from the international community to be exerted on the parties involved.

On August 28, fresh fighting reportedly resumed between the rebels of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) led by General Laurent Nkunda and the DRC government forces in the areas surrounding Ratshuru district in north Kivu province.

The renewed fighting contrasts with the provisions and commitments of the Goma Peace Agreement signed on January 23 between the government of DRC and all internal armed groups operating in Eastern DRC.

The number of civilians who have lost their lives in the renewed fighting is unknown, but it probably runs into hundreds, the ICGLR executive secretary said. He said sexual violence against women and children in this conflict has claimed the “unenviable reputation of being the worst in the world.”

The Kampala conference is the third member state and partners meeting to expedite the disarmament of armed pastoralists and help promote sustainable development in zone three countries in the region. The zone three membership include Uganda, Kenya, and Sudan. But Ethiopia has been co-opted and is represented in the Kampala meeting.

“As ICGLR we have expressed concern over the continued military escalation and its possible externalisation consequences to the region. It is crucial that a member of ICGLR is helped to stabilise whether the problem is internal or external, because whatever the nature of the conflict, it has a negative impact to all the people of the region,” Ambassador Mulamula added.

He said ICGLR would convene an extra-ordinary meeting in Bujumbura that will attract national coordinators from all member states next week to gather thoughts and advice on the possible options and the best way forward in resolving the crisis in DRC.

State Minister for Karamoja Affairs in the Prime Minister’s office, Mr Aston Kajara who officially opened the conference described the security situation in Eastern DRC as “unfortunate. Mr Kajara called on member state and the United Nations to move shiftily and help return the situation to normalcy.

The Kampala meeting expected to last two days will discuss the establishment of the Regional Disarmament Committee (REDICOM) and adopt a resource mobilisation strategy for the implementation of the project road map.

Uganda was lauded for its effort to stop the proliferation of the illicit and small arms in the region through the Karamoja Integrated Disarmament and Development Programme (KIDDP).

“I wish to underline our appreciation of the approach taken by the government of Uganda, which is already implementing an integrated programme on its side of the border in zone three,” Ambassador Mulamula said.

Uganda’s KIDDP approach integrates disarmament with human rights, environment, gender and other interventions like water, food and education that are crucial to sustainable disarmament of pastoralists and address the root causes for their armament in the first place,

Mister Kajara said over 27 thousand illegal guns have been recovered from Karamoja but said the borders with Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan remain porous giving room for more illegal guns to be smuggled in.