Italiano - Français

We strongly oppose the protocol of cooperation agreement on sensitive minerals signed by the European Union with Rwanda on 19 February!

For at least a decade, but also recently, the UN has declared that the M23 movement, which destabilizes the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is maneuvered and supported by Rwanda and even composed of its troops. 
From the East of the Congo, with the support of corrupt leaders at various levels, complicity at the borders and cunning of various kinds, for years precious minerals have been brought out to Rwanda and other countries bordering on the east: coltan, gold, rare earth ...
But today, thanks to the territories occupied militarily by the M23-Rwanda, the minerals pass continuously and without finding any obstacle, but at the price of deaths, violence of all kinds, robbery of goods of a population whose fault is only that of living in a territory rich in resources, of which, by all means, everyone wants to grab, while, in the East alone, two million displaced people survive miserably and die in makeshift hovels, in the middle of the rainy season.

Therefore, this agreement, which, in words, expresses a strong intention to respect the rule of law, according to the traceability rules that Europe itself gave itself in 2021, is both disconcerting and hypocritical «encourage the development of sustainable and resilient value chains for critical raw materials», that is, strategic minerals that are so much sought after in this time of race towards the so-called green economy, but which in fact invests funds to create infrastructure in Rwanda.
A country that does not have significant quantities of these minerals, but that has become a major exporter only thanks to the wars it has ignited in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1996, always through interposed movements of cover, which in these years are called M23.

If the objective of the agreement of 19 February, as declared by the European Parliament in response to the many criticisms, is to «increase traceability and transparency and strengthen the fight against illegal mineral trafficking» Was it not more appropriate to sanction Rwanda than to conclude an agreement with the very people who are attacking and plundering the Congo?

Echoing many voices that have risen against this agreement, both from the authorities, Congolese citizens, European countries such as Belgium and MEPs, we too as a committee "Insieme per la Pace in Congo" ("Together for Peace in Congo", in Italian) We strongly urge the European Union to annul this agreement in order to help bring peace to the region.

We believe that only a fair and impartial attitude can promote peaceful coexistence in the Great Lakes region.

PRIMI FIRMATARI

1. P. Alex Zanotelli – Missionario Comboniano
2. Don Luigi Ciotti - Gruppo Abele
3. Don Tonio Dell’Olio – giornalista Pro Civitate Christiana
4. Gruppo Abele (Torino)
5. Marcia dei bruchi
6. Forum trentino per la pace ed i diritti umani
7. Don Giovanni Piumatti – Fidei Donum Pinerolo
8. Giusy Baioni - giornalista
9. Associazione 46° Parallelo / Atlante delle Guerre e dei Conflitti del Mondo
10. C.A.V.A - Coordinamento delle Associazioni della Vallagarina per l'Africa
11. Comitato per la Promozione e la Protezione dei diritti umani
12. Rete Pace per il Congo
13. Simama Associazione di volontariato
14. Tribù del mondo Associazione
15. Associazione Tumaini un ponte di solidarietà
16. Peace Walking Man foundation
17. Associazione Colibrì – Insieme per la pace in Congo
18. Centro Pace Ecologia e Diritti Umani – Rovereto
19. Time for Africa ODV
20. Unimondo – Testata giornalistica online
21. Associazione Jambo – commercio equo e solidale Fidenza (PR)
22. Comunità delle Piagge – Firenze
23. Donne in nero
24. Karmadonne Associazione Interculturale APS
25. Associazione Haki Tumaini ODV – Reggio Emilia
26. Centro Missionario Diocesano Pinerolo
27. Pax Christi Punto Pace Mestre (VE)
28. Associazione Percorsi di vita APS nazionale
29. Associazione Karibuni odv -  Genova