Topic: 2024-The Situation in Rwanda
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: Harry Cornell
The heart of Africa is being torn apart by the conflict in Rwanda and the Democratic People’s Republic of the Congo (DRC). Over 7 million people have been displaced by the conflict, posing a refugee crisis to neighboring nations. On November 25th, Angola released a statement that key progress had been made between the two nations. Conditions have been set for Rwandan troops to pull out of the DRC. This means that the scope of this committee has now shifted to making sure that those conditions (though not yet known) are met and that Rwandan troops follow the agreement. Additionally, the United Nations must monitor the committee made by both parties to monitor ceasefire violations back in August. Human rights abuses are on the rise. Food insecurity is on the rise as the World Food Programme estimates that 5.4 million people in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri are currently experiencing food insecurity. Additionally, almost 2% of women in North Kivu reported an experienced history of rape, according to the United States’ National Institute of Health. These issues are only becoming more prominent, according to the most recent MONUSCO report to the Secretary-General.
The United Kingdom (UK) has not taken a strong stance on the matter. The previous Tory government constructed a plan to deport asylum-seekers from varying nations to Rwanda, which has since been repealed by new Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The refugee crisis is of great concern to the UK as demonstrated by Prime Minister Starmer’s investment of£84 million into Central Africa and the Middle East. Moreover, the Starmer regime has been heavily invested in renewing the commonwealth’s commitment to human rights and protecting humanitarian interests worldwide. The cancellation of the so-called “Rwanda Plan” exemplifies this. With regards to the March 23 Movement (M23) and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), the United Kingdom is in favor of a deescalation of conflict.
The UK would be in favor of increasing MONUSCO peacekeeper forces and expanding the mandate of the mission to include a focus on preventing humanitarian abuses. However, Britain is not currently in a position to supply any of its forces as peacekeepers, especially given any lasting sentiments in Rwanda regarding the Tory “Rwanda Plan.” Additionally, the UK would support food aid being delivered to the nation, and would suggest an airdrop given the central location of Rwanda. Specifically, an airdrop targeted at the provinces of Ituri in addition to both North and South Kivu, to address the areas of the most acute need.. The UK would also support the continuation of peace talks between both Rwanda and the DRC via the mediator of Angola. These peace talks have only progressed and any deviation from this path may risk a collapse in talks. Finally, the UK would be in favor of sanctioning any nation or group that sells arms from either M23 or the FDLR, as a means of discouraging sales of weapons to both parties. It should be noted that this may require a change in the mandate of MONUSCO to include monitoring of any arms deals within the region.
Works Cited
Agence France Presse. “DR Congo And Rwanda Advance Peace Process.” Barron’s, Dow Jons & Company, Inc, 25 Nov. 2024, www.barrons.com/news/dr-congo-and-rwanda-advance-peace-process-7b7d7214.
“Democratic Republic of the Congo.” World Food Programme, www.wfp.org/emergencies/drc-emergency.
Fraser, Euan. “Promising beginnings as new UK Government commits to tackle human rights and labour abuses.” Hope For Justice, 26 July 2024, hopeforjustice.org/news/promising-beginnings-as-new-uk-government-commits-to-tackle-human-rights-and-labour-abuses/.
Morton, Becky. “UK pledges £84m to stop illegal migration ‘at source’.” British Broadcasting Corporation, 18 July 2024, www.bbc.com/news/articles/czvxp9d5lrko.
Peterman, Amber, et al. “Estimates and Determinants of Sexual Violence Against Women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.” National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health, June 2011, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3093289/#bib16.
U.N. Secretary General. “Implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region.” United Nations Digital Library, United Nations, 30 Sept. 2024, digitallibrary.un.org/record/4062966/files/S_2024_700-EN.pdf.
