GENEVA, July 20 (WSH) — The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed its readiness to support the release of individuals detained in connection with the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), following a joint declaration agreed upon by the DRC government and the Congo River Alliance/M23 Movement (AFC/M23).
“Our teams in the DRC stand prepared to assist with the release of detainees from both sides, ensuring their safe return to their families,” said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric. “Humanitarian actions like these can lay the groundwork for mutual trust and serve as vital first steps on the path toward lasting peace.”
President Spoljaric emphasized the devastating impact of the protracted conflict in eastern DRC: “Generations of civilians have suffered under a relentless cycle of violence, displacement, and loss. The declaration mediated by Qatar, alongside the bilateral agreement signed last month in Washington, DC between the DRC and Rwanda, offers a significant opportunity for the region to move toward peace and stability.”
Between 30 April and 15 May, at the request of the DRC Ministry of Defence and Veterans, the United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, and the Congo River Alliance/M23 Movement, the ICRC successfully transported more than 1,300 disarmed members of the DRC armed forces and their families from Goma to Kinshasa. The nearly 2,000-kilometre operation traversed active conflict zones and underscored the ICRC’s role as a neutral humanitarian intermediary.
During a May visit to Rwanda and the DRC, President Spoljaric met with leaders from both nations and reiterated the ICRC’s commitment to supporting the implementation of peace agreements through neutral humanitarian engagement. The declaration of principles signed in Qatar is the latest diplomatic milestone to explicitly include humanitarian initiatives supported by the ICRC.
The ICRC has maintained a continuous presence in the DRC since 1978, working to protect and assist victims of armed conflict throughout the country.
