KAMPALA, March 11, 2025 –– A delegation from the Forum of Parliamentarians in the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region [PF-ICGLR] is in Uganda as part of a fact-finding mission on peace and security in the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC].
The delegation led by the Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia and President of PF-ICGLR, Nelly Mutti Butete also met President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Entebbe.
Welcoming the delegation to Uganda, Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among reaffirmed Uganda’s support for African-led solutions to the continent’s challenges.
“As Africans, we have always agreed that African problems can only be solved locally. This pursuit that you are doing, moving from one country to another, meeting heads of state to find the best way to achieve peace, is a very good initiative and I applaud you and your team for that,” she said.
Among also reiterated Uganda’s commitment to regional peace, stating that peace in the DRC is crucial for stability in the Great Lakes Region.
“Problem-solving is why they are here. We want to see how best peace can be created in the DRC and that peace can only be achieved with our heads of state and with us as Africans. It begins with us,” she said.
Among also highlighted Uganda’s active participation in the forum noting that the country remains up to date on its financial obligations.
Butete outlined the objectives of the visit, emphasising the importance of regional leadership in resolving conflicts.
“This is the fourth phase on issues relating to peace and security in the Eastern DRC,” she said emphasasing that, ‘‘without peace, we cannot interact, and even regional integration cannot prosper. Peace is a precursor to development’’.
She underscored the need for African countries to take charge of their security concerns, avoiding external intervention where possible.
“We don’t want to invite strangers to come and intervene in our affairs when we have responsible leaders in our presence who can take charge and guide citizens to ensure peace and stability in the region,” stated Butete.
The delegation’s findings will be presented to the PF-ICGLR plenary in April before being escalated to higher levels for further discussion.
Butete, who is concluding her term as President of the forum emphasised the importance of tangible progress before the leadership transition to Angola.
The DRC government forces and M23 rebels continue to fight each even as there has been regional and international agitation for negotiations to create peace and stability in the country.
Background
The M23 Movement was formed in 2012 and first saw action during its first rebellion against the Congolese government that led to the displacement of large numbers of people.
On November 20, 2012, M23 took control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu with a population of a million people, but was persuaded to withdraw from the city by the ICGLR because the Congolese government had finally agreed to negotiate with the rebel group. In late 2012, Congolese troops, along with UN peacekeeping troops, retook Goma, and the M23 announced a ceasefire and said that it wanted to resume peace talks.
A United Nations report claimed that Rwanda created and commanded the M23 rebel group. In 2017, M23 remnants resumed their insurgency in the Congo, although it was largely a low-level insurgency.
However, the M23 reorganized in 2022 and launched a subsequent offensive, which eventually resulted in the capture of the Congolese border town of Bunagana by the rebels.
In November 2022, M23 rebels got close to the city of Goma and forced about 180,000 people to leave their homes after the Congolese Army had withdrawn from the region near the village of Kibumba.
In June 2023, Human Rights Watch reported human rights abuses by M23 rebels in the Congo, including unlawful killings, rape and other war crimes.
Allegations implicate Rwandan support for these actions, bringing concerns about war crimes and making the humanitarian situation worse in the region. The United Nations Security Council encouraged sanctions against the M23 leaders and implicated Rwandan officials.
As of January 2025, the group occupies various major towns in eastern North Kivu including Bunagana, Kiwanja, Kitchanga, Rubaya, Rutshuru, and the city of Goma.
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