Statement of the International Contact Group (ICG) on the situation in eastern DRC
The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG), chaired by Germany, issued a statement on the situation in eastern DRC.
The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes, including representatives from Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, expresses its utmost concern of the situation in eastern DRC, stresses that there is no military solution to the conflict and calls upon the parties to prioritize diplomatic and political engagement.
The International Contact Group fully supports the African-led political process established by the Luanda and Nairobi Processes. We commend the work done by the President of Angola and new Chair of the African Union João Lourenço and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. We fully support the call by the AU Peace and Security Council of 14 February 2025 for immediate resumption of negotiations and dialogue with all state and non-state parties (military and non-military) including the M23 under the frameworks of the Luanda and Nairobi Processes.
We strongly condemn the continued offensive by the M23/Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) in North and South Kivu and the recent capture of Kavumu airport and the city of Bukavu. We call on M23/AFC to immediately cease its offensive and withdraw from all territories it has taken control of, including Goma and Goma airport. Direct or indirect support for armed groups by all parties must cease immediately. We call on the RDF to immediately withdraw from the DRC.
The continued offensive by M23/AFC and the RDF is undermining regional peace efforts and the implementation of the conclusions of the joint summit of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held on 8 February 2025 and endorsed by the AU Peace and Security Council on 14 February 2025. We urge the parties to implement the immediate and unconditional ceasefire and call on all armed groups, including the M23, to lay down their arms and resume dialogue to put an end to the violence and protect civilian populations.
We condemn the serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in the strongest terms and stress the imperative that all accusations of violations and abuses be thoroughly investigated, victims recognized and supported and perpetrators be held accountable for their crimes. Humanitarian access must be ensured without any delay or conditions. The International Contact Group notes with strong concern allegations of high levels of sexual violence.
The International Contact Group emphasizes the primary responsibility of the Government of the DRC to reinforce State authority and governance in eastern DRC and reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We also emphasize the importance of the intra-Congolese dialogue initiatives to strengthen the national cohesion of the DRC such as the facilitation led by the churches.
The International Contact Group calls on all parties in the region of the Great Lakes to avoid military escalation, engage seriously in the political peace process, address the root causes of the decade-long conflict, and work towards revitalizing the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region.