Democratic Republic of Congo: EURAC requests a strengthened political dialogue
(29-03-2007)European NGOs request that the European Union should act to consolidate Congo’s young democracy and the freedom of expression of the political opposition.
The member organizations of EurAC deplore the fighting which took place in Kinshasa on 22-23 March as a result of Senator Jean-Pierre Bemba’s refusal to dismantle his militia and integrate his men into the national army. They also regret that the Congolese authorities did not prioritize an approach based on dialogue to solve this problem. EurAC deplores the hundreds of dead and wounded people and expresses its solidarity with the families of the victims.
« Apart from the material and human losses, there is also the damage caused to the political process, which is yet to be assessed» says Kris Berwouts, Director of EurAC. The military action of 22-23 March was taken by a legitimate government against the militia of a former warlord in order to accelerate the integration of the army. In political terms, however, there are worries about the space for democratic opposition. It is time that all armed actors cooperate fully with the integration of their troops into the national army. The political opposition should, based on the results during the different elections, restructure itself and contribute to the establishment of a properly constituted state,” Berwouts continues. « The European Union and its member states must help to create an agreed and efficient framework for dialogue between the international community and the new Congolese authorities based on a common strategy and a long term vision».
In order to safeguard and consolidate the positive outcome of the electoral process and the establishment of the first legitimate institutions in the Congo since 1960, EurAC asks the European Union and its member states:
- to support, through EUSEC, the programme of the Security Sector Reform, prioritising the process of unifying the national army, providing a clear line of command and incorporating all the different forces present in the country. EUSEC also should quickly bring the Armed Forces of the DRC to control and pay its soldiers. The European Union should also intensify its support to the reform of the police (through the EUPOL programme) and of the judicial system. It should also support the struggle against arm trade.
- to work within the United Nations for the continued presence of MONUC in the DRC until such time as the Congolese army - unified, properly paid and disciplined - becomes capable of protecting the population against all internal and external threats. Major-General Cammaert’s view that MONUC’s presence will be needed for the next ten year, seems realistic.
- to commit itself to sustainable development and the struggle against poverty in order to achieve a rapid and visible improvement in the daily living conditions of the Congolese people. This commitment must be translated in a structural support of the Common Programme of the Congo Government, who will account for it for the democratically elected Parliament.
- to start a regular political dialogue on reference criteria or benchmarks on democracy, respect for human rights and good governance. The benchmarks must also include reference criteria in matters of security.
- to support the process of decentralisation including the organisation of local elections, the European Union and its member states should acknowledge and protect the role of independent watch dog of the government that civil society has to play in the process towards democracy and development in Congo and should therefore support the development and capacity building of its structures.
Kris Berwouts
Director EurAC
165 rue des Tanneurs
1000 Bruxelles - Belgium
00 32 213 04 02
00 32 485 070 852
EurAc is the European Network of NGOs for Central Africa. EurAC is made up of 46 member organizations from 11 European countries (Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland) working for development and humanitarian relief in Central Africa.
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