Democratic Republic of the Congo: Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on the security situation in Ituri

20.05.2020

For several weeks the province of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been experiencing an intensification of systematic, almost daily attacks on the civilian population. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 300 people have been killed and more than 200 000 people have fled the atrocities.

These barbaric acts must cease. It is the responsibility of the Congolese authorities and the UN Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to put a stop to the actions of the CODECO armed militia and bring the suspected perpetrators to justice. There can be no sense of impunity. It is also essential to prioritise dialogue and to combat any instrumentalisation of identity.

What is happening in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo cannot become a forgotten crisis, and efforts to end the insecurity in the region must be accelerated. The European Union stands ready to support the efforts of the Congolese authorities in this regard, in coordination with its partners.

Finally, the European Union does not exclude taking appropriate measures against individuals, groups or organisations whose actions are detrimental to the preservation of peace or contribute to serious human rights violations.

 

Gesine Knolle
Press Officer for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/International Partnerships
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