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Flaws in the UN Experts’ report on security crisis in Eastern DRC

By Alcade Ndemeye
On 13 January 2025 at 05:09

A recent report of the United Nations (UN) Group of Experts on the security crisis in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sparked controversy for its perceived bias, as it highlights perspectives primarily from the DRC government and includes unverified claims aimed at tarnishing Rwanda’s image.

The report sheds light on the conflict involving the DRC’s army (FARDC), armed groups like the FDLR formed by remnant perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Wazalendo, European mercenaries, and MONUSCO, who have been fighting against the M23 rebel group for nearly three years.

Released on December 27, 2024, the report draws on information from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), FARDC, and senior officials in the Congolese government.

Despite MONUSCO’s mission to protect civilians in the region, it has allegedly supported FARDC with weapons and equipment, which have also reached terrorist groups like the FDLR.

The collaboration raises doubts about the reliability of information collected by the UN experts from MONUSCO, given its active involvement in the conflict.

Biased stance

The report lacks input from M23 representatives, focusing instead on testimonies from sources that often remain unnamed or unverifiable.

This approach undermines its credibility and raises questions about the impartiality of the research.

President Paul Kagame criticized such biased reports during a press conference on January 9, 2025, questioning MONUSCO’s effectiveness in addressing the FDLR threat over three decades.

He highlighted that despite the billions of dollars spent, MONUSCO has failed to resolve security challenges in Eastern DRC, choosing instead to shift blame onto Rwanda for Congo’s internal issues.

Overlooking the FDLR threat

The FDLR remains central to the tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, given its history of cross-border attacks on Rwanda and its destabilizing presence in the region.

However, the UN Group of Experts’ report largely downplays the FDLR’s role and its integration into the Congolese military, portraying this as a strategy to cover the group’s continued existence.

Besides, MONUSCO, which has been tasked with dismantling armed groups in DRC like the FDLR, now appears to be aligned with forces aiming to destabilize Rwanda.

Alleged links between M23 and ADF

The report also alleges a connection between the M23 and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group associated with the Islamic State and known for crimes against humanity.

This claim, based on unverified social media rumors, has been dismissed by M23 as baseless.

M23 has repeatedly sought dialogue with the DRC government to address security issues, including the ADF threat.

Analysts argue that the UN’s narrative reinforces the DRC’s portrayal of M23 as a terrorist group, further justifying military operations against them despite their calls for peace.

Ignoring FARDC’s collaboration with militia groups

The report highlights FARDC’s alliances with armed groups like Wazalendo but fails to address their well-documented atrocities.

Wazalendo, which partly includes former FDLR fighters, has been implicated in attacks on Congolese Tutsi communities, such as the October 2023 massacre in Masisi.

The presence of over 1,600 European mercenaries fighting alongside FARDC also goes unmentioned, despite their use of weapons provided by MONUSCO.

This omission contradicts international norms, which prohibit the use of mercenaries in conflicts.

By overlooking the FDLR threat, FARDC’s alliances with militia groups, and the role of MONUSCO, the report risks undermining efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the region.

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) is blamed for failure to address security crisis in eastern DRC for over three decades.

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