Solidarity with Eastern DRC amid attacks on people and environment by March 23 Movement

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A call for international solidarity against the environmental and humanitarian crimes committed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo by the Mouvement du 23 mars (M23/AFC)

Armed conflicts perpetrated by local and foreign groups have sown terror among communities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo for over 30 years, also causing environmental degradation, including the destruction of forests and biodiversity, and water and air pollution. Civilians continue to be the target of summary executions, kidnappings, rape and myriad other physical attacks. This crisis continues, and the world must pay attention.

People and communities under attack

The AFC/M23 movement’s use of motorized vehicles and sophisticated weaponry is sowing environmental contamination and widespread terror among the population. Human rights groups and the United Nations denounced the violent occupation of the towns of Goma and Bukavu on January 27 and February 14, 2025 respectively, including the killing of over 3,000 civilians over 3 days in Goma. Several young leaders were killed, including Chief Prosper Kimanuka Musekura of Kiziba II village in the Mudja groupement in Nyiragongo territory (North Kivu), murdered alongside his wife and three children by unknown assailants on the night of Monday, February 10th. The artist Delcat Idengo was also murdered in Goma on February 13th. Over 50 young people were killed between the 20th and 23rd of that month. The AFC/M23 is using targeted assassinations of community leaders to frighten and terrorize peaceful citizens. During the day, AFC/M23 rebels are committing acts of looting and rape of young girls. There are documented cases of forced recruitment into the rebel army. They have burned buildings, including the Mnzenze prison and a bar in Don Bosco Ngangi, causing several people to perish in deadly blazes.

Environmental destruction

Human rights violations in the eastern DRC are accompanied by environmental crimes. In addition to the atrocities described above, causing the displacement of thousands of people and families, the population is experiencing climate change impacts that are worsening an already unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the area, with differentiated impacts on women and girls. The massacres and forced displacements of indigenous populations and local communities by the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels are strategies for occupying land and communities’ living spaces for the exploitation of forests and minerals such as cassiterite, gold, coltan, tungsten and other natural resources. 

The Global Forest Coalition (GFC) and its member organizations around the world support the Congolese people, particularly those in the East—notably North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri—during this difficult time. We call on all those working for peace, development, and environmental and forest protection to make their voices heard by signing this declaration and demand the withdrawal of the rebels and an end to acts of environmental destruction, violence, murder, and assassinations of the civilians. 

Urgent demands

We urge that the following actions be taken immediately by the UN Secretary General, Security Council, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Human Rights Council, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Special Rapporteur on the Environment, Special Rapporteur on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders; the European Union; and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant bodies and organizations:

• Carry out an international investigation into environmental crimes, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Demand the withdrawal of armed troops and the cessation of all support for the M23/AFC rebels in the DRC.
• Suspend all financial and military aid, which fuels the violence in eastern Congo and facilitates the illegal and unjust extraction and sale of minerals, a source of destruction of forests and biodiversity. 
• Suspend and revise the EU-Rwanda Memorandum of Understanding on mineral purchases, ensuring that minerals exported by Rwanda are not extracted illegally in eastern Congo through killings, displacement, and attacks on indigenous peoples. These violations are contrary to international humanitarian law, the UN Charter, and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 
• Provide emergency humanitarian aid and security measures for all civilian victims, including indigenous women and children, prevent further attacks and abuses, and ensure immediate and long-term protection.

Signed by: Global Forest Coalition (GFC)

 

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3 Mar, 2025
Posted in News, Petitions and statements