The Senate of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) removed the immunity of Joseph Kabila with a landslide vote against the ex President. Joseph Kabila has been accused of treason, war crimes and supporting M23 militant groups in the east of DRC. As per reports, M23 militants have captured vast lands on the eastern side of DRC with the help of Rwanda.
Congolese authorities have stated that there is clear evidence against Kabila, “treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity and participation in an insurrectionary movement”. Lifting of the Senator immunity now leaves Kabila open towards prosecution. Current DRC President Felix Tshisekedi started raiding the properties of Kabila and suspended his Party called People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy. However, PPRD Deputy Secretary-General Ferdinand Kambere reported that prosecution of Kabila would be nothing but a distraction for the Congolese people from the ongoing armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Ongoing Armed Conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo
In a recently held Oval House meeting, President Donald Trump allegedly showed South African President Ramaphosa photographs from massacres of Congo conflicts, which he claimed to be of farmers from South Africa. Baseless allegations or not, Trump’s move has put a light on devastating armed conflicts happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo, near the heart of Africa.
Armed conflicts between several ethnic, religious and foreign groups have resulted in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As per a Reuters report published last month, around 28 million people are starving amidst the recent escalating conflicts in DRC between the government forces and militants in the east backed by Rwanda.
In the eastern part of DRC, escalation of violence since January resulted in the destruction of schools and health infrastructure. 7.3 million people have been displaced while 86000 people have fled to the neighbouring countries.
It is worth noting that the Democratic Republic of Congo is rich in critical and strategic minerals like the Cobalt, Coltan, Gold, Diamonds. Various militant groups have carried out violents attack to have control on these minerals. Large amount of minerals are often smuggled out of the country through illegal networks while the Congolese people remain starved.
However Rwanda backed M23 on the eastern side is not the only rebel group operating in the region. Other militant groups like the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), Mai Mai Groups, Nyatura, People’s Alliance for a Free and Sovereign Congo (APCLS), and Raia Mutomboki also operate in the region. Most of these forces are active on the eastern and South eastern side of DRC.
CODECO militants belonging primarily to the lendu ethnicity target the Hemu Civilians with massacres and village burning. They fight for land, ethnic revemnge and to capture gold mines.
Ugandan-led Islamist group, ADF carried out horrific attacks on the Congolese like death by crucifixion, mouths of people sewn shut for lying to the militants, rapes and violent execution. ADF’s method of torture and violence resemble those carried out by the ISIS. This group is known for brutal massacres of civilians in the farming areas. Their aim is to establish Islamic rule, spread terror and capture land and resources.
Democratic forces of the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) is arguably one of the most violent armed group in the Eastern Congo over the decades. FDLR consist of the Rwandan Hutu who have carried out war crimes, ethnic massacres, mass rapes and forced recruitment of children.
Mai Mai groups like the Mai Mai Sheka made of Nyanga Militants have also carried out barbaric attacks on the Hutu and Hunde Civilians who were reportedly hacked to death by machete. They have also been robbing farmers.
All these armed Militants have brought violence and unimaginable horror to the Congolese. These armed groups have been raiding and attacking schools with impunity disrupting education and causing harm to the children. As per reports, 2500 schools have been closed in the eastern DRC while 7,95,000 children affected. Militants have been targeting the children in Schools for recruitment and sexual exploitation. Reports have claimed that the Militants have turned the Schools into a battleground.
Regional diplomacy with the help of players like Rwanda, Uganda, DRC must look for end of this crisis sooner rather than later. Most of these conflicts are ethnic tensions and competition to control the vast resources of the DRC. A comprehensive approach is the need of the hour to have stability for the well being of the people of DRC.
