Topic: 2024-The Situation in Rwanda
Country: France
Delegate Name: Braden Longstreth
Great Lakes Model United Nations Conference
Delegation: France
Committee: Security Council
The Situation in Rwanda
Conflict in the DRC has been an issue for over 30 years now, but recently the government of Rwanda has been sending support to the March 23 (M23), a rebellion party of the Tutsi people in the DRC. This conflict started with the genocide of the Tutsi people, caused by the Hutu government. The genocide caused the DRC to be flooded with Tutsi people, which is also how the M23 was created (DRC). In opposition to this, the Democratic Forces of the Liberation for Rwanda (FDLR) was created, by mainly Hutu people. This rebellion group had collaborated with the Congolese army, to help combat the flare up of M23. The M23 is committing many violations against basic human rights to the people of the DRC, stemming from unlawful killings of the people to rape. This major conflict, led to the governments of Rwanda and DRC to agree toa ceasefire in August of 2024. This ceasefire, however, is only abided by governmental militia, so the rebellion groups are still in full conflict. These crimes against humanity and the major conflict have been causing people to flee the area, creating one of the biggest human displacement issues there has been in recent history.
France is fully against all conflict in the area and is looking to be ending the violence as quickly as possible. Although no physical action has taken place by France, the nation condemns the M23 offensive and is expecting Rwanda to retract their support of M23. Although France is against Rwanda’s position in the conflict, the government has a history of working with Rwanda. These ties with Rwanda have helped France to have a louder voice in the negotiations made by Rwanda in the Luanda Process (Ministère). France hopes to move towards a diplomatic resolution of the conflict, by ending governmental support of the rebellion groups, and maintaining to sovereignty in the DRC.
As the two countries’ militaries have followed the ceasefire, most of the violence is seen from the two rebellion parties of M23 and FDLR. To undermine these two parties, two main matters must be put into practice. The first is the end of governmental support of these two parties; to help limit their access to weapons and manpower. Rwanda is currently supporting the M23 with weapons, which is giving the Congolese army a major reason to retaliate. Second, investigations must be placed onto the Rwandan government, to pinpoint the members of the government that are supporting the M23 with funds and weapons. If these members of the government can be eliminated, there will be no outside funding for the rebel group, which will end up eliminating the conflict . The Human Rights watch has recorded many cases of a violation of human rights by the M23 leaders. More support should be brought to the organization so that martial law can be placed in DRC. After the conflict is resolved, UN, and other humanitarian rights groups can be brought into DRC and Rwanda to protect the citizens and aid to the humanitarian needs created by the conflict.
Work Cited :
“Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo | Global Conflict Tracker.” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/violence-democratic-republic-congo. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères. “France and Rwanda.” France Diplomacy – Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/rwanda/france-and-rwanda/. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
“DRC – North Kivu: M23 Crisis Analysis (16 October 2024).” DRC – North Kivu: M23 Crisis Analysis (16 October 2024) | Displacement Tracking Matrix, dtm.iom.int/reports/drc-north-kivu-m23-crisis-analysis-16-october-2024. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
