The Democratic Republic of Congo has asked the UN Security Council to impose a complete embargo on the export of all minerals labelled as Rwandan particularly coltan and gold.
In its statement at the 15-member UNSC emergency session at UN Headquarters in New York on Sunday, DRC also said the Council must order immediately the end of hostilities by Rwanda and demand an immediate withdrawal of the Rwandan troops present on Congolese territory.
This, the statement said, would help put an end to “illegal exploitation of natural resources of the DRC and the financing of armed conflicts”.
“The Security Council must impose targeted sanctions including asset freeze and travel ban, not only against identified members of the chain of command of Rwanda Defence Force but also against the political decision maker responsible for this aggression,” the statement added.
DRC, which is struggling to contain fresh fighting by Rwanda-backed M23 in eastern Congo, further asked the Security Council to revoke immediately the status of Rwanda as a troop contributing country to peacekeeping operations.
“The coordinated action of M23 and RDF is a grave violation of international law and compromises peacekeeping operations …The Security Council must establish a regime of systematic violation for all sale and transfer of weapons to Rwanda by Member states and private entities,” the statement added.
This, DRC said, would guarantee peace and weapons will not be used to equip armed groups.
Still as the Security Council emergency meeting on DR Congo, head of UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO Bintou Keita said “we are trapped” following the surge by M23 towards Goma.
At lease 13 peacekeepers have been killed in the fighting and others injured.
Keita called for immediate action to end the crisis.
Ambassadors of Uruguay and South Africa, whose peacekeepers were recently killed, appealed to the Security Council to protect UN troops.
South Africa’s Ambassador Mathu Joyini also said the current situation in DR Congo requires immediate action.
“The Council must discharge its mandate in this regard, and parties must work to bring this conflict to an end,” she said.
FRESH FIGHTING
UN Humanitarian Coordinator in DR Congo raised fresh concerns on escalating violence.
Bruno Lemarquis expressed his profound concern regarding the intensification of ongoing fighting around the city of Goma and its growing impact on civilians.
Since the renewed M23 offensives near Goma on January 23, hundreds of thousands of people have once again been forced to flee multiple active conflict zones, with reception and assistance capacities already overstretched.
Several displacement sites on the outskirts of Goma, hosting more than 300,000 people, have been completely emptied within hours, according to UN News.
DRC Foreign Affairs Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner said Rwanda is planning “a brutality” against her country, bringing the region to the brink of tragedy.
“Each minute that is passing without decisive action by this Council is a victory for the aggressor,” she said. “The world is watching you. It’s time to act.”
Kayikwamba said Rwanda’s Defence Forces have stepped up attacks, violating the ceasefire agreement, aggravating an already disastrous humanitarian situation.
“In Goma, the RDF has blocked roads, endangered civilian and humanitarian flights and continue to attack camps for displaced persons,” she said.
Further, the Foreign Minister told the Council that the Luanda Process, endorsed by the African Union, has been sabotaged by Rwanda, and that Kigali continues to plunder Congolese minerals and is responsible of attacks on civilians, peacekeepers and humanitarians.
“DR Congo will reject any attempt to include M23 in the Luanda Process, which is an agreement between states,” she said.
RWANDA’S POSITION
On its part, Rwanda said the international community must take its share of the blame for the current conflict in its failure to ensure a resolution of the root causes and offer practical solutions.
“We are committed to a peaceful solution. But,DR Congo has to play a constructive role and cannot outsource such efforts,” Rwanda Permanent Representative Ernest Rwamucyo said..
Rwamucyo said the recent militarisation of the DR Congo represents an unprecedented security threat to Rwanda, and that the presence of Congolese forces and mercenaries “is unacceptable”.
He added that while the UN forces were first deployed 26 years ago, MONUSCO is now going beyond its mandate.
“The UN peacekeeping mission provides support to mercenaries and is being drawn into a conflict in violation of laws against supporting armed groups,” he added.
