M23

As 2014 starts, there are reasons to hope that peace may be in sight in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The M23 has been defeated militarily and today are set to sign a peace agreement with the government, but dozens of armed groups remain in eastern DRC, exposing civilians to daily violence.

In response to today’s announcement of the end of the M23 rebellion by M23 Commander Bertrand Bisimwa, Oxfam’s DRC Humanitarian Coordinator Tariq Riebl said:

International aid agency Oxfam warned that the recent military gains by the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s army (FARDC) against the M23 group does not mean an end to the bloody conflict

As hundreds of thousands of people still live in fear of attacks, African leaders at the AU Summit must “seize the moment” and make peace a priority.

As the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo grows, with thousands of people fleeing new fighting in the past 48 hours, Oxfam is stepping up the supply of life-saving aid to more than 80,000 people in and around Goma.

As the M23 armed group fights to take control of yet more territory in eastern DRC, and a multitude of other armed groups terrorize communities, there is a risk of complete collapse of state authority and worsening humanitarian crisis.

Communities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are being preyed on mercilessly by rebel groups and local militias, as well as their own government’s troops and officials, in a vicious cycle of exploitation and abuse according to a new Oxfam report.

More than 760,000 people have been displaced in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since the beginning of 2012, in the Kivu provinces alone.

Sally Chin of Oxfam said: