Plenary sitting
17.6.2016
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure
on the massacres in eastern Congo
( 2016/2770(RSP) )
Maria Arena, Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Norbert Neuser, Elena Valenciano, Marlene Mizzi
on behalf of the S&D Group
European Parliament resolution on the massacres in eastern Congo
( 2016/2770(RSP) )
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),
– having regard to the resolution of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly of 15 June 2016 on the pre-electoral and security situation in the DRC,
– having regard to the statements by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), and by her spokesperson, on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
– having regard to the Council conclusions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo of 23 May 2016,
– having regard to the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2014, adopted by the Council on 22 June 2015,
– having regard to the open letter sent by civil society groups in the territories of Beni, Butembo and Lubero to the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 14 May 2016,
– having regard to the Nairobi Declarations of December 2013,
– having regard to the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region, signed in Addis Ababa in February 2013,
– having regard to the UN Security Council resolutions on the DRC, in particular resolutions 2198 (2015) on renewing the DRC sanctions regime and the mandate of the Group of Experts, and 2277 (2016), which renewed the mandate of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) for a year,
– having regard to the report of the UN Group of Experts on the DRC of 12 January 2015,
– having regard to the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights and the activities of the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office in the DRC, of 27 July 2015,
– having regard to the joint press statement issued on 2 September 2015 by the Team of International Envoys and Representatives for the Great Lakes Region of Africa on elections in the DRC,
– having regard to the statement of 9 November 2015 by the President of the UN Security Council on the situation in the DRC,
– having regard to the UN Secretary-General’s reports of 9 March 2016 on the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC and on the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region,
– having regard to the revised Cotonou Partnership Agreement,
– having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of June 1981,
– having regard to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance of January 2007,
– having regard to the Congolese Constitution of 18 February 2006,
– having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to deteriorate in the north-eastern part of the country, with numerous reports of massacres, of recruitment and use of children by armed groups, and of widespread sexual and gender‑based violence;
B. whereas in the territories of Beni, Lubero and Butembo more than 1 160 people were savagely killed between October 2014 and May 2016, more than 1 470 people disappeared, many houses, health centres and schools were burnt down and many women, men and children were victims of sexual violence;
C. whereas many villages in these territories are now occupied by armed groups;
D. whereas responsibility for these killings is to be attributed to the armed groups present in the region, originating from the DRC or neighbouring countries;
E. whereas exceptionally violent killings were carried out, on some occasions in close proximity to positions held by the national army (FARDC) and bases of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO);
F. whereas these massacres have met with indifference from the international community and with media silence;
G. whereas the President of the DRC is the guarantor of national integrity, national independence, the safety of people and goods, and the regular functioning of the country’s institutions, and is the Commander-in-Chief of the country’s armed forces;
H. whereas the Congolese army and MONUSCO are present in the region to maintain stability, fight armed groups and protect civilians;
I. whereas the mandate of MONUSCO has been renewed and reinforced;
J. whereas the ongoing conflict and military operations have also caused the internal displacement of 1.5 million people, and have forced 500 000 people to flee the country;
K. whereas access to, and exploitation of, natural resources continue to play an important role in fuelling the conflicts in the DRC and the region;
1. Expresses its deep concern regarding the escalation of violence and the alarming and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the DRC, caused in particular by the armed conflicts in the eastern provinces, which have now been going on for more than 20 years; deplores the loss of life and expresses its sympathy with the people of the DRC;
2. Insists that this situation should not prevent elections from taking place as constitutionally planned;
3. Calls for the DRC Government and MONUSCO to conduct an investigation into the failures of the Congolese and MONUSCO forces to protect civilians in the region of Beni;
4. Urges that a thorough, independent and transparent investigation be launched by the international community into the massacres; asks for an emergency meeting of the Team of International Envoys and Representatives for the Great Lakes region of Africa on elections in the DRC with a view to taking appropriate action in this direction, such as mobilising the UN Security Council;
5. Recalls that the neutralisation of all armed groups in the region will strongly contribute to peace and stability, and calls for the Government of the DRC to make this a priority and to restore safety for all its citizens and stability in the territories of Beni, Lubero and Butembo; urges the African Union (AU) and neighbouring countries to provide the Congolese army with the necessary military support;
6. Reiterates that there can be no impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations, war crimes, crimes against humanity and sexual violence against women and girls, or for those responsible for the recruitment of child soldiers; stresses that the people responsible for any such acts must be reported, identified, prosecuted and punished in accordance with national and international criminal law;
7. Calls on the AU and the EU to ensure a permanent political dialogue between the countries of the Great Lakes region in order to prevent any further destabilisation; regrets that only limited progress has been made in the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement of February 2013, and calls on all parties to actively contribute to stabilisation efforts;
8. Asks for an evaluation report of the actions of MONUSCO to be produced and made publicly available; welcomes UN Security Council resolution 2277 (2016), which renewed MONUSCO’s mandate and reinforced its competences in the field of civilian protection and human rights; urges MONUSCO to make full use of this mandate to protect the civilian population;
9. Insists that civil society must be involved in any action to protect civilians and resolve the conflicts, and that human rights defenders must be protected and offered a platform by the Government of the DRC and the international community;
10. Acknowledges the efforts made by the Congolese authorities in the fight against impunity and in preventing sexual violence and violence against children, but considers that progress remains slow;
11. Reminds the EU that there must be coherence between its policies, and that negotiations for agreements in the region must promote peace, stability, development and human rights;
12. Invites the EU to send an observer to evaluate the humanitarian situation and alert the international community to the massacres;
13. Calls for the EU to consider imposing targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on those responsible for the violent crackdown in the DRC, so as to help prevent further violence;
14. Calls for the EU and its Member States to maintain their assistance to the people of the DRC in order to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable sections of the population, in particular the internally displaced;
15. Welcomes the Congolese authorities’ efforts to implement the legislation which forbids trading in and processing of minerals in areas where there is illegal exploitation of minerals, such as those controlled by armed groups; calls on the Congolese authorities to step up the implementation of the legislation and urges the DRC to continue its efforts to comply with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative;
16. 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 African Union, the ACP-EU Council, the Secretary‑General of the UN, the UN Human Rights Council and the President, Prime Minister and Parliament of the DRC.