STATEMENT OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN NORTH KIVU ABOUT LUANDA AGREEMENTS
DECLARATION OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS OF NORTH KIVU RELATING TO THE DECISIONS OF THE REPORT OF THE SECOND MINISTERIAL MEETING ON THE SECURITY AND PEACE SITUATION IN THE EAST OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGON SIGNED IN LUANDA-ANGOLA DATED JULY 30 2024 BETWEEN THE DRC AND RWANDA.
Here is the French version ” DECLARATION DES ORGANISATIONS DE LA SOCIETE CIVILE DU NORD SUR LUANDA
Here is the signed document: DECLARATION DES ORGANIZATIONS
We, the Civil Society organizations gathered at the Office of the Collective of Young Solidarity Organizations of Congo-Kinshasa, coordination of North Kivu on Monday August 5, 2024, to analyze the steps of the Congolese Government in relation to the war and especially the agreements signed in Luanda -Angola between the DRC and Rwanda,
Recalling the First Article of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo of 2006, stipulating “the Democratic Republic of Congo is, within its borders of June 30, 1960, a state of law, independent, sovereign, united and indivisible, social, democratic and secular”.
After debate and deliberation, we observed that these agreements focused on the problem of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) a theme which is not a priority in relation to the current War in the DRC but which interests Rwanda among others,
Taking into account the declarations of Congolese officials, our field research, and various reports on the security situation in the North Kivu Province in particular and the East of the DRC in general, we position ourselves that the FDLR do not constitute an imminent danger in the region,
However, we Civil Society organizations are concerned to note that the AFC/M23 rebellion movement and its subsidiary Rwanda, which are active and occupying territories, are not held accountable anywhere in these agreements,
Furthermore, we are concerned by the ambiguous communication from the Congolese Government on the identity of the FDLR and its neutralization plan of which Rwanda remains an observer and analyst yet an actor for its material and logistical support to the M23.
In view of the above we ask:
– To the Congolese government to urgently withdraw from these agreements,
– That the Congolese Government involves Civil Society, especially the parties affected by the war, to take into account their concerns and their participation in decision-making and the peace process,
– To the Congolese Parliament to challenge the Minister of Foreign Affairs to explain the humiliation of the DRC in Angola,
– To the United Nations to facilitate an inter-Rwandan Dialogue to promote lasting peace in the region,
Therefore, we take this opportunity to reject outright these Luanda agreements signed on July 30, 2024 and ask the Congolese Government to take responsibility for the protection and security of the country, the sovereignty of the Congolese people and the integrity of the territory. Congolese are non-negotiable,
Aware that the Luanda agreements pose a danger for the Democratic Republic of Congo and do not provide lasting or short-term, long-term solutions to peace and security in the DRC, we ask all social actors to mobilize for actions which can lead us to real and lasting peace in the DRC and the Great Lakes region,
Done in Goma, Monday August 5, 2024
