The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been under an unprecedented existential threat for more than 25 years, with the aggression of the Kigali regime and the invasion of large swathes of national territory, taking the form of annexation with the establishment of illegitimate parallel administrations, in violation of the United Nations Charter and international law, and in defiance of calls for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of occupying forces.
It is in this alarming context that we take advantage of the 12th anniversary of the Framework Agreement for Peace, Security and Cooperation in the DRC and the Region, signed in Addis Ababa on February 24, 2013, to reaffirm that it is the only peace agreement aimed at addressing the root causes of armed violence and instability.
There is an urgent need to revitalize the “Accord of Hope”, in which the Congolese state, the countries of the region and the international community came together to achieve lasting peace in the DRC and the African Great Lakes region by adopting a series of commitments whose effective implementation was to be facilitated by follow-up mechanisms at national, regional and international level to consolidate a strategy for peace and development.
It is regrettable to note that the lack of political will on the part of the Congolese authorities, coupled with the bad faith of the destabilizing states in the region and the lack of diplomatic mobilization on the part of the co-sponsoring institutions, has led to the deterioration of a situation which today threatens international peace and security.
It is never too late to act and adopt urgent and decisive measures to put pressure on the forces of aggression and occupation and stem the escalation of the crisis. The DRC’s partner countries and institutions, in particular the co-sponsors of the Framework Agreement, can no longer accept or tolerate these flagrant violations of international law without reacting firmly.
The time has come to move from words to deeds. Like all peoples, the Congolese nation has the right to self-determination and to live in peace. The failure of the signatories to the Framework Agreement to respect their commitments, and their repeated calls for an immediate ceasefire and unconditional withdrawal from the zones occupied by the Rwandan army and the M23, must be accompanied by vigorous sanctions and the suspension of military and security cooperation by all states and institutions with leverage over the parties to the conflict.
For those who wish to know more about the Framework Agreement, its potentials and the lack of implementation of the commitments made by the Congolese State, neighboring countries and the international community, please read our publication made at the 10th anniversary in 2013.
