Both the international and national communities stepped up and made attempts to help deal with the human rights violations in Cuba. The March 23rd Movement in 2009 was a big step in the right direction. The National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP - a former rebel group) signed a peace agreement with the Congolese government to reintegrate back into the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) (ICRtoP). However, the M23 rebellion formed after former CNDP forces complained about the non-implementation of agreements to integrate political-military movements of CNDP into FARDC. The Rwandan government has been backing M23, and in November of 2012, M23 fought FARDC and successfully took over Goma, a major city in the Congo. UNSC temporarily overcame this roadblock by condemning M23’s seizure of Goma. The rebel group agreed to negotiate terms of withdrawal but were unable to agree on an implementation of a ceasefire. This turned into a pattern of stalled negotiations that continued up to 2013.
Later that year, the UN Intervention Brigade helped government forces defeat the M23 rebels (D.R. Congo Backgrounder). The Congolese government and the UN Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) launched multiple initiatives against any remaining armed groups. They focused more on disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reintegration, and resettlement programs. Unfortunately, these efforts have been stalled and militia groups continue to avoid the demands to disarm and disband.
The United Nations set a deadline (in which they had to unconditionally surrender of all cadres) for the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). After the rebels failed to meet the January deadline, the UN Security Council attempted to work together with the Congolese government to try and neutralize Rwandan armed groups that continue to threaten civilians by calling for immediate military action by FARDC (United Nations). However, the UN threatened to withdraw its support from the DRC’s military campaign because a couple of the generals who were picked to lead were accused of human rights violations (Nichols). Despite their threats, the government did not switch out the leaders, and the UN formally ended its support for the DRC military offensive against the rebel groups (VOAnews).
In addition, there have been growing political tensions over constitutional reform and President Kabila’s bid to run for a third term have led to protests and recent violence (D.R. Congo Backgrounder). The recent death of a veteran DRC opposition leader jeopardized a vital political deal that correlated with the change in leadership. Étienne Tshisekedi (the principal leader of the opposition) was supposed to oversee the transition of presidential power but his death led to a widespread of unrest (Burke). The very fragile political deal that was aimed to prevent serious civil conflict in the DRC is now in danger of dissolving. Tshisekedi was set to lead the transitional council intended to “pave the way for Kabila to leave power in 2017 and refrain from running for a third term as president” (Burke).
Later that year, the UN Intervention Brigade helped government forces defeat the M23 rebels (D.R. Congo Backgrounder). The Congolese government and the UN Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) launched multiple initiatives against any remaining armed groups. They focused more on disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reintegration, and resettlement programs. Unfortunately, these efforts have been stalled and militia groups continue to avoid the demands to disarm and disband.
The United Nations set a deadline (in which they had to unconditionally surrender of all cadres) for the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). After the rebels failed to meet the January deadline, the UN Security Council attempted to work together with the Congolese government to try and neutralize Rwandan armed groups that continue to threaten civilians by calling for immediate military action by FARDC (United Nations). However, the UN threatened to withdraw its support from the DRC’s military campaign because a couple of the generals who were picked to lead were accused of human rights violations (Nichols). Despite their threats, the government did not switch out the leaders, and the UN formally ended its support for the DRC military offensive against the rebel groups (VOAnews).
In addition, there have been growing political tensions over constitutional reform and President Kabila’s bid to run for a third term have led to protests and recent violence (D.R. Congo Backgrounder). The recent death of a veteran DRC opposition leader jeopardized a vital political deal that correlated with the change in leadership. Étienne Tshisekedi (the principal leader of the opposition) was supposed to oversee the transition of presidential power but his death led to a widespread of unrest (Burke). The very fragile political deal that was aimed to prevent serious civil conflict in the DRC is now in danger of dissolving. Tshisekedi was set to lead the transitional council intended to “pave the way for Kabila to leave power in 2017 and refrain from running for a third term as president” (Burke).