Washington, D.C., October 31, 2008
Averting Renewed Regional War in Eastern Congo
Statement by the Enough Project
The offensive by the rebel Laurent Nkunda’s National Congress for the
Defense of People, or CNDP, has dramatically worsened the crisis in the
eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This latest fighting threatens to
once again draw Congo’s neighbors directly into the fray in a damaging
escalation that would effectively undo a six-year regional and
international effort to stabilize the Democratic Republic of the Congo and
the Great Lakes region.
The immediate crisis should not distract the world from a larger truth:
peace in the Congo – and indeed the Great Lakes – requires a comprehensive
strategy, robust diplomatic engagement, and a strong and capable
peacekeeping force. It also requires the world’s sustained attention.
Intermittent and inconsistent crisis management must be replaced by a
broader effort to deal with the drivers of endemic insecurity and
atrocities.
The January Goma agreement – which secured a ceasefire between the
Congolese government and 22 armed groups – is effectively dead. The CNDP
has taken control of a critical strategic corridor, stretching from Kibumba
to Rutshuru, and has done so without facing effective military resistance
or a real cost for its actions. Tens of thousands of people have been
displaced in the last several days, including many who were living in camps
that were overrun by Nkunda’s fighters. This brings the total number of
displaced, since the latest round of fighting began in late August, to more
than 200,000. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are now cut off from
access to humanitarian assistance and many relief agencies are evacuating
staff, virtually assuring that the mortality rates in eastern Congo will
rise to even more grotesque heights.
Incapable of slowing the CNDP’s advance toward Goma, poorly disciplined
Congolese government forces have fallen into disorder and now threaten the
civilians they are obligated to protect, reportedly with rape and looting.
Hindered by insufficient resources to stabilize the region, the UN
peacekeeping force – MONUC – has been used as a foil by both sides, and
anti-UN sentiments are on the rise. Vulnerable Congolese civilians lack
protection, and Congolese human rights defenders are at risk of reprisals
for speaking out against the renewed violence.
The situation continues to change by the hour, but Nkunda’s declaration of
a temporary and conditional ceasefire offers a momentary window of
opportunity. A senior U.N. envoy must engage the parties to develop a
sustained, structured dialogue, sequencing a ceasefire, the withdrawal of
forces, and political talks. Support for this process will require forceful
and coordinated action by diplomats and their direct engagement with both
parties.
It is also critical that the U.N. Security Council immediately take steps
to bolster MONUC so that it has the political clout and military
capabilities to assert itself as a protector of Congolese civilians. MONUC
must be prepared to respond forcefully to aggression from any side.
The world must also help ensure an end to impunity for any war crimes and
crimes against humanity. When forces loyal to Laurent Nkunda last menaced a
major Congolese city, occupying Bukavu in South Kivu in 2004, they engaged
in widespread rape and pillage. The fact that no one was held accountable
for those crimes has undeniably contributed to behavior around Goma at
present.
What the United States must do:
Working with partners in the United Nations, European Union, and African
Union, the United States should the following immediate steps to help
defuse the current crisis:
1. Speak directly to all parties in the conflict: The Assistant Secretary
of State for Africa is in the region and is well placed to support a
U.N.-led dialogue between President Kabila and General Nkunda. The United
States must also encourage the ongoing discussions between the Congolese
and Rwandan governments. A détente between the two countries is critical
for easing tensions in the short-term and dealing with root causes of
conflict in the long term.
2. Urge all armed groups and regional governments to avoid cross-border
adventurism: The United Nations Security Council should be prepared to
enact targeted sanctions against any party that crosses national borders to
engage in hostilities.
3. Support MONUC’s efforts to fulfill its mandate and protect civilians at
risk from violence. The U.S. should use all available resources to support
the redeployment of MONUC forces to Goma, and support multilateral efforts
to give MONUC the capabilities required for it to “take robust action to
protect citizens at risk and deter any attempt to threaten political
process by any armed group,” as called for by the U.N. Security Council.
The European Union, or EU, is best placed to lead this effort, but the
United States military has assets in Uganda and Djibouti that could assist
an EU-led effort.
4. Promote accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity: All
sides must be held to account for the crimes committed, and the
International Criminal Court must work with MONUC to investigate war crimes
and crimes against humanity by all sides. The United States must also make
clear to the Congolese government that the behavior of its security forces
during this crisis will weigh heavily in consideration of future foreign
aid and security assistance from the Unites States.
5. Address the long-term problem: Work through the Security Council to
assure political and financial support for a sustained international
stabilization effort in eastern Congo.
What activists should do: Call your members of congress and ask them to
urge the Bush Administration to take these steps to prevent the already
catastrophic situation in eastern Congo from spiraling further out of
control.
####
ENOUGH is a project of the Center for American Progress to end genocide and
crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, ENOUGH focuses on the crises in
Sudan, Chad, eastern Congo, northern Uganda, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.
ENOUGH’s strategy papers and briefings provide sharp field analysis and
targeted policy recommendations based on a “3P” crisis response strategy:
promoting durable peace, providing civilian protection, and punishing
perpetrators of atrocities. ENOUGH works with concerned citizens,
advocates, and policy makers to prevent, mitigate, and resolve these
crises. To learn more about ENOUGH and what you can do to help, go to
www.enoughproject.org.
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