MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo – B10-0105/2025

B10‑0105/2025

European Parliament resolution on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

(2025/2553(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), notably those of 18 January 2018[1] and 24 November 2022[2], which address ongoing conflicts and humanitarian concerns in the region,

– having regard to its resolution of 17 January 2008 on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and rape as a war crime[3] and to its previous resolutions on human rights abuses in the DRC,

– having regard to the declaration of 25 January 2025 by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), Kaja Kallas, on behalf of the EU on the security situation in the Kivu,

– having regard to the Council conclusions of 9 December 2019 on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which outline the EU’s strategic approach to the DRC,

– having regard to UN Security Council resolutions on the DRC, notably Resolution 2765 (2024) adopted on 20 December 2024, which extended the mandate of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) until 20 December 2025, and Resolution 2688 (2023) of 27 June 2023, which renewed the DRC sanctions regime until 1 July 2024,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2017/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017, laying down supply chain due diligence obligations for Union importers of tin, tantalum, tungsten, their ores, and gold originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas[4],

– having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the EU and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the other part[5] (the Samoa Agreement),

– having regard to the Addis Ababa Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region, signed on 24 February 2013 under the auspices of the African Union and the United Nations, which aimed to address the root causes of instability in the DRC by promoting regional cooperation, respecting state sovereignty and ending external support to armed groups,

– having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which was adopted on 27 June 1981 and entered into force on 21 October 1986,

– having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, which was adopted unanimously on 31 October 2000,

– having regard to the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, adopted on 18 February 2006,

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Charter of the United Nations,

– having regard to Report S/2024/432 by the Group of Experts on the DRC to the President of the UN Security Council,

– having regard to Report S/2024/969 by the Group of Experts on the DRC to the President of the UN Security Council,

– having regard to the UN Security Council press statement of 26 January 2025 on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reaffirming the international community’s commitment to the DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,

– having regard to the memorandum of understanding signed on 19 February 2024 between the European Union and Rwanda concerning sustainable and resilient value chains for critical raw materials,

– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the DRC has faced decades of ongoing armed conflicts, particularly in the eastern regions of North and South Kivu, fuelled by local, regional and international actors;

B. whereas since 1998, the conflict in the DRC has resulted in the deaths of more than 5.4 million people, predominantly civilians, making it the most protracted and deadly conflict since World War II;

C. whereas a significant proportion of these fatalities have been children, who have endured violence and suffered from malnutrition and preventable diseases exacerbated by the ongoing instability;

D. whereas to this day, the DRC continues to suffer violence, attacks, killings and widespread human rights violations perpetrated by domestic and foreign armed groups, notably in the east of the country;

E. whereas the Congo River Alliance and its principal member, the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, with documented support from Rwanda, has recently escalated hostilities in North Kivu, culminating in the recent seizure of Goma, the capital city of North Kivu, in direct violation of the DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity;

F. whereas numerous UN reports, including findings from the UN Group of Experts on the DRC, have repeatedly documented Rwanda’s military, logistical and financial support to M23, despite official denials from the Rwandan Government;

G. whereas the ongoing conflict has resulted in widespread human rights violations, including mass killings, sexual violence, forced displacement and the forced recruitment of soldiers, creating one of Africa’s worst protracted humanitarian crises;

H. whereas rape and sexual violence are systematically used as a weapon of war by the M23 rebel group, as documented by numerous human rights organisations and UN reports;

I. whereas over 700 000 people have been forcibly displaced as a result of the escalating violence in the Kivu regions, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation in refugee camps and informal settlements;

J. whereas the recent escalation of violence in the eastern DRC has resulted in the tragic deaths of over 3 000 civilians and the loss of 13 MONUSCO peacekeepers;

K. whereas armed groups, including M23, continue to illegally exploit the DRC’s vast mineral resources, including coltan, cobalt and gold, fuelling conflict financing and depriving the Congolese people of their national wealth;

L. whereas the EU signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rwanda in February 2024 regarding sustainable value chains for critical raw materials, despite growing concerns over Rwanda’s role in the illicit exploitation of DRC minerals; whereas this MoU cannot ensure supply chain due diligence as it relies solely on the seller’s self-declarations, providing no verifiable proof of traceability;

M. whereas Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, was re-elected on 15 July 2024 with 99.18 % of the vote, extending his 24-year rule by another five years, amid widespread concerns over the absence of political freedom in Rwanda;

N. whereas MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, has been in the country for over two decades, yet continues to struggle to prevent large-scale violence and human rights violations;

O. whereas the African Union (AU), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have the potential to play a greater role in peacekeeping and regional stabilisation, complementing MONUSCO and other diplomatic efforts, provided that such initiatives align with the sovereignty and wishes of the DRC;

P. whereas regional efforts, including the Luanda Process led by Angolan President João Lourenço, have sought to mediate between the DRC and Rwanda, though continued hostilities have undermined diplomatic progress;

Q. whereas the Great Lakes region remains highly fragile, and a full-scale war between the DRC and Rwanda would not only inflict immense suffering on Congolese civilians, but also destabilise the broader east and central African region;

R. whereas, at the initiative of Kenyan President William Ruto, a joint SADC-EAC summit was held on 7 and 8 February 2025, providing an opportunity for political dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda;

1. Unequivocally condemns the seizure of Goma by the M23 rebel group, backed by Rwanda, as a grave violation of the DRC’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability; denounces Rwanda’s documented support for M23 and demands its immediate cessation;

2. Reaffirms its unwavering support for the stability of the region and calls for full respect for the territorial integrity of the DRC; emphasises the importance of respecting international borders and the sovereignty of nations; condemns any actions that seek to undermine these principles;

3. Strongly condemns the grave human rights violations committed in Kivu, including pillaging, mass rapes and forced displacement, which have triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, displacing over 230 000 more people; notes that the North and South Kivu provinces are already home to over 4.6 million internally displaced people, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees;

4. Expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the 13 MONUSCO soldiers who lost their lives while carrying out their peacekeeping mission, and to the families of the 3 000 civilians killed in the ongoing violence;

5. Denounces the systematic exploitation and illegal extraction of the DRC’s natural resources, particularly ores and critical raw materials, by armed groups; notes that this plundering not only deprives the Congolese people of their national wealth, but also fuels the conflict, as revenues from these resources are used to finance rebel activities;

6. Condemns the perpetuation of modern slavery within the mining sectors of the region, especially in artisanal mines; notes that miners, including children, are subjected to inhumane working conditions, forced labour and severe exploitation;

7. Expresses deep concern over M23’s recent offensive in South Kivu and the inflammatory rhetoric propagated by the Rwanda-backed rebel alliance; worries about the potential for such actions to further destabilise the region, incite ethnic tensions and undermine efforts toward peace;

8. Notes the unilateral ceasefire declared by M23; points out that while this development may offer a temporary respite from active hostilities, the Congolese Government has described this ceasefire as a ‘false communication’ amid reports of ongoing violence;

9. Expresses profound concern over Rwanda’s escalating militarisation and the potential escalation of the conflict into a full-scale war, which could destabilise the entire Great Lakes region; underscores the importance of diplomacy and calls on all regional actors to engage constructively to avert spillover effects that could lead to a broader crisis;

10. Highlights the opaque roles of some neighbouring countries in the conflict, particularly Uganda; calls for transparency and accountability from all external parties involved;

11. Takes note of the Commission’s announcement of humanitarian support for the DRC, with an initial amount of EUR 60 million for 2025; calls for further improvements in humanitarian aid, including food, clean water, medical assistance and shelter, with a focus on protecting women and children;

12. Notes that humanitarian assistance must be delivered in full respect of humanitarian principles; calls on the Commission to ensure that EU funding is effectively implemented, directly benefiting local communities and delivering real value to them;

13. Emphasises the severe environmental threats posed by the conflict, particularly to the Virunga National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site; recalls that its unique wildlife has been historically plagued by poaching, deforestation and habitat destruction, exacerbated by local instability; calls for immediate measures to safeguard these natural treasures by all parties on the ground;

14. Urges the Commission to immediately suspend and review the EU-Rwanda MoU on critical raw materials in a transparent manner, given Rwanda’s role in destabilising the DRC; notes that the MoU, signed in February 2024, is under scrutiny amid allegations that Rwanda is exploiting DRC resources to fuel the conflict; highlights that Pillar 3 of the MoU, which claims to strengthen due diligence and traceability through Rwanda’s engagement with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, mine-level data publication and scientific verification of mineral origins, lacks credibility as it relies solely on the seller’s self-declarations, providing no verifiable proof of traceability;

15. Urges the Commission to immediately freeze and review financial assistance, development and security cooperation programmes with Rwanda in response to its ongoing destabilisation of the DRC; underlines that, according to Article 101(7) of the Samoa Agreement, funding from the EU could be resumed and modulated based on the conclusions of the Commission’s review;

16. Expresses its dismay at the Commission’s passivity towards ongoing atrocities in Kivu, which have persisted for years; calls for a thorough investigation into Rwanda’s mineral supply chains to ensure that the EU’s prerogatives in the region – as per the obligations of each party in the agreements signed thus far – are respected;

17. Demands the establishment of a common security and defence policy training mission for the DRC’s army to enhance its capacity to protect civilians, counter armed groups and stabilise the conflict zone, tailored to its actual operational needs on the ground;

18. Acknowledges the need to reassess MONUSCO’s effectiveness, given its prolonged presence and limited impact in preventing large-scale atrocities despite its mandate and resources; calls on the UN to evaluate its strategy and peacekeeping capacity;

19. Welcomes the regional efforts towards reconciliation, such as the Luanda Process, chaired by Angolan President João Lourenço, and the joint SADC-EAC summit in Tanzania; encourages the DRC and Rwanda to engage in political dialogue and promote reconciliation in this context;

20. Welcomes the recent efforts of the AU, the EAC and the SADC and invites them to play a greater role in stabilisation through African-led initiatives that complement MONUSCO, while respecting the DRC’s wishes and sovereignty;

21. Renews its endorsement of an African-led peace process to resolve the conflict in the eastern DRC; calls for the return of all parties to the negotiating table; urges all parties to engage constructively in dialogue to achieve a sustainable and peaceful resolution to the war, in line with the communiqué adopted by the Peace and Security Council of the AU at its 1256th Emergency Ministerial meeting;

22. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the UN Security Council, the Presidents, Prime Ministers and Parliaments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and the African Union and its institutions.