IRDH Denies "Eastern Congo Project" - Congo Independent

2024-07-03 19:00:20

It is the duty of the Suminwa Government to stop the progressive occupation of Kivu and control the killings aimed at gold trafficking in Ituri.

Lubumbashi, June 30, 2024

Maitre The Wild Hubert

The Institute for Research on Human Rights (IRDH) denounces the “Eastern Congo Project” which aims to transform the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) into the “Eastern Congo Republic” which would extend over 764,102 km², or the area. of the former Orientale Province, North Kivu, South Kivu and Maniema. This macabre initiative is made through two sides. Firstly, support in military training, weapons and new military technologies for Rwanda whose troops are in Kivu. And, secondly, the punishment for the killing of the civilian population by the militias of the “Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO)” and those of “Zaire” who trade gold and other strategic minerals from Ituri to Uganda and Rwanda. The Institute recalls that it is the duty of the Suminwa 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 and lives of the Congolese.

In fact, on this day of the 64th anniversary of the independence of the DRC, Rwandan troops are just connecting the cities of Kanyabayonga and Kayina with the other regions of North Kivu, under their occupation. This action shows the determination of Rwandan President Kagame to retrace Congolese borders. IRDH recalls that African heads of state and government adopted Resolution AHG/RS 16 during their summit in Cairo in July 1964 declaring the preservation of the borders that existed at the time of the accession of African countries to independence and to put the principle of inviolability of borders in force. under the umbrella of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union (AU).

Despite numerous reports from the United Nations (UN) on Rwanda’s military activities aimed at destabilizing the DRC, through the label “M23”, the policy of the Western powers seems to be waiting for the result of the project on “Eastern Congo” . Republic”, “Eastern Republic of the Congo”.

Hold on. In January 2024, the US completed a seven-month training of officers and personnel of various ranks of the Rwanda Armed Forces (RDF), at the Nasho military base, in the Kirehe district, in the Eastern Province of Rwanda, on the border with Tanzania. US support for the Rwandan army includes new technologies and military training. It goes back to 1994, when Paul Kagame, who was a major soldier in the Ugandan army at the time, and other senior officers underwent military leadership training at Fort Lavenworth in Kansas (United States of America). The United Kingdom also participates in the training of Rwandan military officers. For example, in November 2022, Ian Kagame, son of the President of Rwanda and 320 other young military officers benefited from elite training at the Royal Academy in Sandhurst, Berkshire, United Kingdom. Regarding the European Union (EU) strategy, it consists of strengthening the “Rwanda Vision 2050” including a Strategic Mineral Purchase Agreement. Despite denials of systematic mineralization of these minerals in the DRC.

The report of the UN expert group from January 2024 complements the declarations in their previous reports from June 2023 and December 2022, regarding the military activities of Rwanda and Uganda, in the DRC, under the label “M23”. Rwandan officers trained in the United States and England transmit the same training to the M23 terrorists. The report claims that M23 troops benefited from training at Gako military academy, Bugesera District, Eastern Province of Rwanda, between early May and early June 2023. Since September 2023, the Rwandan army Task Force, which in charge of coordinating military operations in North Kivu, having intensified the training of M23 leaders in terms of strategies, the use of new technologies, as well as the logistical support provided. However, in the capture of Kanyabayonga on June 29, Rwandan soldiers were outnumbered by those known as M23, from the CNDP or RCD. Rwandan forces brought new military equipment to North Kivu, including Galil (Israel) type assault rifles, heavy and light machine guns, various types of rocket launchers, grenade launchers, barrelless cannons, night vision equipment.

The UN also highlights Uganda’s ambiguous role in the DRC, calling for joint operations against ADF terrorists. Public opinion remembers the opprobrium that General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, spent as Chief of Staff of the Ugandan armed forces from March 2024 onwards. Paul Kagame”, against all odds.

It is the responsibility of the IRDH that the Ugandan soldiers who were tracking the ADF are in the process of handing over the medals to new recruits under the label “M23”. A certain Ndeze Samuel based in Arua (Uganda), would facilitate the recruitment of young people from Aru and Mahagi (in the DRC), and transport them to Uganda to bring them back, in small groups, to the Beni environment, North. which Mr. Ndeze was one of the leaders of the Ituri militia called “Forces Armées du Peuple Congolais (FAPC)”, created in 2003 and led by General Jérôme Kakwavu Bukande (under UN sanctions/2005).

In Ituri, despite the intercommunal dialogue organized by the military administration and the “Program for Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization” (PDDRC-S), in the first half of 2024 more than 100 people were killed, the hundreds of thousands of displaced people, it caused. in clashes between CODECO militia against ZAIRE, in DJUGU and IRUMU.

The Ituri war theater is still the environment of the gold sites, especially the Gbado site, the Bendere mining site of the Musaba group, the villages of Lodjibua, Bianda, Bata, in the territory of Djugu (which is considered a stronghold of the CODECO militia. , under the command of ” a certain Charité”, who lives in Djiba). In Irumu, the fighting is frequent in the village of Lodjo-Gangala, Soba, Nyamamba, Mbogi, Ofay, Tchabi and the area called Café (which is considered a stronghold of the Zaire militia, led by a certain Mara, living in Plito ). Massive population displacement extends into the bush near the villages of Plito and Mongwalu.

Ultimately, the IRDH denies the plan to split the DRC under the leadership of Rwanda and Uganda, with the unspoken support of Western powers. The creation of the “Eastern Republic of the Congo” harms Congolese interests. Therefore, the Institute recommends that the DRC government use all means of self-defense and self-determination, to protect the population and the national territory. It is his duty to strengthen the FARDC in the front.

Since Rwanda and Uganda benefit from military training programs and support for their economic development from the United States, the European Union and Great Britain, those donors should compel the first cities to implement their plan for the DRC break up abandon. Dividing Sudan into two causes more problems than it solves.