Renew Europe strongly condemns the occupation of Goma and other territories in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo by the armed rebel group M23 and the Rwanda Defence Forces, a clear violation of international law, the UN Charter and of country’s territorial integrity.
In a resolution adopted by the European Parliament’s Plenary session on 13 February, the Group demands targeted sanctions, the freezing of budget support to Rwanda and a ban on the entry of all blood minerals into the EU.
The attacks with explosive weapons, use of sexual violence against women and girls, and recruitment of child soldiers by the various rebel groups must stop and be addressed by the international community.
Hilde Vautmans MEP (Open Vld, BE), Chair of the Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly and Renew Europe Group’s Coordinator in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, led the negotiations on the resolution put forward by Renew Europe.
“We have all seen the chilling images of murdered mums with tiny babies in their arms. The reality there is horrific. We want complete freeze of all European aid to Rwanda and the cancellation of the 2025 Cycling Championships in Kigali. The European Commission and EU Member States should get humanitarian aid going, secured by a strengthened UN mandate for peacekeeping to restore stability in the region,” said Vautmans.
Click here to read the full resolution.
Photo: European Parliament / 2025