What changed

B100211/2025

B100213/2025

European Parliament resolution on the targeted attacks against Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: defending religious freedom and security

(2025/2612(RSP))

– having regard to its previous resolutions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), inparticularly particularthose itsof resolution18 ofJanuary 132018, February24 2025November on2022 theand escalation13 ofFebruary violence2025, inaddressing theongoing easternconflicts Democraticand Republicthe ofhumanitarian situation in the Congo,region,

– having regard to the statement by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on behalf of the EU of 25 January 2025 on the latest escalation in eastern DRC, which concerned the security situation in Kivu,

– having regard to the Council conclusions of 9 December 2019 on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, outlining the EU’s strategic approach to the DRC,

– having regard to the UN Security Council Resolutions on the DRC, in particular Resolution 2765 (2024) adopted on 20 December 2024, which extended the mandate of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) until 20 December 2025, and Resolution 2688 (2023) of 27 June 2023, which renewed the sanctions regime against the DRC until 1 July 2024,

– having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the other part,

– having regard to the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region, signed in Addis Ababa on 24 February 2013 under the auspices of the African Union and the UN, which aimed to address the root causes of instability in the DRC by promoting regional cooperation, respect for state sovereignty and the ending of external support to armed groups,

– having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which was adopted on 27 June 1981 and entered into force on 21 October 1986,

– having regard to the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which entered into force on 18 February 2006,

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Charter,

– having regard to Report S/2024/432 of 4 June 2024 by the Group of Experts on the DRC to the President of the UN Security Council,

– having regard to Report S/2024/969 of 27 December 2024 by the Group of Experts on the DRC to the President of the UN Security Council,

– having regard to the UN Security Council press statement of 26 January 2025 on the situation in the DRC, reaffirming the international community’s commitment to the DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,

– having regard to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on sustainable and resilient value chains for critical raw materials, signed on 19 February 2024 by the EU and Rwanda,

– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the situation in the eastern DRC continues to deteriorate significantly, with escalating violence, persistent violations of human rights by armed groups, mass displacement, attacks on civilians and alarming humanitarian conditions;

A. whereas on 14 February 2025, 70 Christians were found beheaded in a church in Kasanga in the eastern DRC; whereas the perpetrators were militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) radical Islamist group, with proven ties to the so-called Islamic State terrorist organisation;

B. whereas on 18 March 2025 Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda agreed on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in their first face-to-face meeting in over a year, facilitated by Qatari mediators in Doha;

B. whereas for decades, the DRC has been plagued by ongoing armed conflicts fuelled by local, regional and international actors, particularly in the eastern regions of North Kivu and South Kivu;

C. whereas the armed group M23, backed by Rwanda, has intensified attacks in North Kivu, and on 19 March 2025 it seized the mineral-rich town of Walikale, defying the ceasefire;

C. whereas since 1998, the conflict in the DRC has claimed the lives of more than 5.4 million people, most of them civilians, making it the deadliest conflict since the Second World War;

D. whereas over 7 million people are currently displaced because of ongoing conflicts, with limited access to food, water, healthcare and essential services;

D. whereas a significant proportion of the conflict’s victims are children, who have endured violence and suffered from malnutrition and preventable diseases exacerbated by the ongoing instability; whereas many schools have been shuttered, damaged or destroyed, or turned into shelters; whereas 795 000 children are now being deprived of education; whereas more than 1.6 million children in the eastern DRC no longer attend school;

E. whereas there has been an alarming increase in targeted attacks against civilians, including, but not limited to, Christians, particularly in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces, perpetrated by extremist groups; whereas these attacks, including church bombings, killings and abductions, undermine religious freedom and exacerbate intercommunal tensions; whereas the right to freedom of religion and belief is a fundamental human right and must be protected given the high level of violence and persecution;

E. whereas to this day, people in the DRC continue to face violence, attacks, killings and numerous human rights violations committed by national and foreign armed groups, particularly in the east of the country;

F. whereas women and girls in the DRC face increased levels of sexual and gender-based violence, resulting in there being one victim of rape every four minutes; whereas the staff of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, which receives many survivors of sexual violence, is alarmed about the deteriorating security situation in the area and about the security of the staff and patients in Panzi Hospital itself;

F. whereas the Congo River Alliance and its principal member, the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, have recently intensified hostilities in North Kivu and South Kivu with support from Rwanda, leading to the seizure of Goma, the capital of North Kivu and of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, in direct violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC;

G. whereas the illegal exploitation of mineral resources continues to fuel conflict in the region, necessitating stronger international oversight and responsible sourcing policies;

G. whereas targeted attacks on Christian communities in the DRC have intensified; whereas the brutal massacre of 13 February 2025, perpetrated by the ADF radical Islamist group, is part of a series of assaults specifically targeting Christian communities in the region;

H. whereas in February 2025, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi proposed a deal to US President Donald Trump, in which he seeks military support against M23 rebels in exchange for access to the DRC’s vast mineral resources;

H. whereas since Musa Seka Baluku took leadership of the ADF in 2015, the group has radically changed its ideological orientation; whereas in 2019, the ADF pledged allegiance to Islamic State, becoming its branch in central Africa (Islamic State’s Central African Province – ISCAP);

I. whereas MONUSCO, the EUUN haspeacekeeping committedmission toin supportingthe stabilityDRC, has been present in the DRC throughcountry diplomaticfor engagement,over financialtwo assistancedecades, andyet targetedcontinues sanctionsto againststruggle individualsto responsibleprevent forwidespread violence and human rights abuses;violations;

J. whereas on 17 March 2025, the EU imposed sanctions on nine individuals and one entity responsible for acts that constitute serious human rights violations and abuses in the DRC, but further diplomatic and economic measures may be necessary;

J. whereas the situation in the Great Lakes region remains highly fragile, and a large-scale conflict between the DRC and Rwanda would not only cause immense suffering to civilians in the DRC but would also destabilise the entire central and eastern African region, and would facilitate the spread of radical Islam;

K. whereas the Council renewed the EU’s financial support for the deployment of Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) troops in Mozambique under the European Peace Facility (EPF); whereas the head of these forces was previously deployed in the eastern DRC to support abuses committed by M23, giving rise to serious doubt as to whether there are sufficient safeguards attached to EPF support, including effective vetting and other human rights requirements;

K. whereas in its resolution of 13 February 2025, Parliament called for the suspension of the EU-Rwanda MoU on critical raw materials; whereas the Commission is undertaking a review of the MoU;

1. Expresses deep concern over the worsening security and humanitarian crisis in the eastern DRC;

1. Strongly condemns the barbaric crimes committed against Christians in the DRC, including summary executions, beheadings, abductions, torture and targeted attacks on churches and Christian communities; specifically condemns the 13 February 2025 massacre in Kasanga, where 70 Christians were beheaded in a Protestant church by the ADF, a radical Islamist group;

2. Strongly condemns the occupation of Goma and other territories in the eastern DRC by M23 and the RDF as an unacceptable breach of the DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; urges the Rwandan Government to withdraw its troops from DRC territory, the presence of whom is a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, and cease cooperation with the M23 rebels; demands that Rwanda and all other potential state actors in the region cease their support for M23;

2. Stresses that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world and face increasing violence, discrimination and oppression in many regions; further stresses the need for urgent international action to protect their rights, ensure their safety and uphold their religious freedom;

3. Calls for an immediate and effective ceasefire, and for the full implementation of diplomatic agreements, including the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes;

3. Highlights that the Great Lakes region faces a growing and persistent terrorist threat, characterised by the presence of extremist armed groups committing atrocities against civilians, including targeted attacks on Christian communities; notes that, in addition to the threat posed by the ADF, which is affiliated with Islamic State, several terrorist cells linked to al-Qaeda are also operating in the region; underscores that these groups maintain ties with transnational jihadist networks; stresses the need for a coordinated regional and international response to combat terrorism, while fully respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the DRC;

4. Is appalled by the shocking use of sexual violence against women and girls as a tool of repression and a weapon of war in the eastern DRC, and by the unacceptable recruitment of child soldiers by the various rebel groups; demands that these matters be addressed by the international community without delay; reiterates strongly that any attack against UN-mandated forces is inexcusable and might be considered a war crime;

4. Underlines that radical Islamist insurgency is causing growing concern in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, Sudan, Nigeria and Mozambique, as well as in the Great Lakes region; further notes that 16 million Christians in sub-Saharan Africa have been forcibly displaced by violence, with many of them facing persecution because of their faith;

5. Calls for an immediate end to the violence, particularly the mass killings and the use of rape as a strategic weapon of war; calls on the DRC and Rwanda to investigate and appropriately prosecute those responsible for war crimes, including targeted attacks against Christian and all other religious communities and places of worship;

5. Reaffirms its unwavering support for stability in the region and calls for full respect for the territorial integrity of the DRC; emphasises the importance of respecting international borders and national sovereignty; condemns any actions that undermine these principles;

6. Calls on the DRC Government to implement security sector reforms, intensify its efforts to prevent further atrocities against civilians and end its support for and collaboration with abusive armed groups, including ensuring the full protection of religious communities and their places of worship; urges the DRC Government to ensure accountability for human rights violations and prosecute those responsible for attacks; urges the DRC Government to address and prevent hate speech and incitement, including the involvement of officials in such acts, and hate-motivated acts of violence or intimidation;

6. Emphasises that decades of conflict, lack of governmental authority and negligence have created a serious security vacuum, fostering the growth of armed groups, among them those responsible for the persecution of Christians in the region; highlights that the forced displacement of certain Christian populations exacerbates the insecurity and persecution faced by these communities;

7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase humanitarian aid to address the urgent needs of displaced persons and vulnerable communities in the DRC, ensuring safe access to food, medical care and shelter;

7. Strongly condemns the atrocities committed by M23, which have led to a further deterioration of the security situation in the DRC, widening the possibilities for actions by extremist groups;

8. Supports the imposition of further targeted EU sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for financing or engaging in violence, human rights abuses and resource exploitation; calls on the Council to implement and expand these sanctions by targeting all responsible entities and individuals, including Major General Emmy K. Ruvusha, Commander of the Rwanda Security Forces, identified in the June 2023 report of the UN Group of Experts;

8. Reiterates the call made in its resolution of 13 February 2025 for military aid to Rwanda to be frozen as long as its support for M23 persists; notes that no measures have yet been taken by the Commission in response to Parliament’s resolution; notes that the Commission has started reviewing the EU-Rwanda MoU on critical raw materials given Rwanda’s role in destabilising the DRC; calls on the Commission to present the results of this review to Parliament as soon as they are available;

9. Calls for stricter enforcement of EU regulations on conflict minerals to prevent illicit trade from fuelling armed groups in the DRC; calls once again on the Commission to suspend the Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda and to suspend its support for all projects associated with the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, as such projects could lead to direct or indirect support for human rights violations in the eastern DRC; requests that the Commission share detailed mapping of current projects with Rwandan authorities and its assessment of whether they may contribute to or fail to address human rights violations either inside Rwanda or in the DRC;

9. Calls on the Commission and the African Union to take appropriate measures to foster security and peace in the Great Lakes region, in coordination with regional actors;

10. Calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service to intensify diplomatic efforts by working closely with regional partners, including the African Union, the East African Community and the United Nations, in order to step up diplomatic efforts to achieve a sustainable resolution to the conflict;

10. Further urges measures to foster good governance, combat corruption and improve the capacities of security forces in the DRC, in order to increase stability and human security in the eastern DRC, protect civilians, combat armed groups and stabilise the conflict zone;

11. Expresses concern over reports of foreign interference exacerbating the conflict and calls for an independent investigation into allegations of external support for armed groups;

11. Reiterates its call for a reform of MONUSCO to enhance its effectiveness in protecting civilians, particularly Christians facing attacks by radical extremist Islamist groups, as well as in combating other armed groups; stresses the need to strengthen its intervention capabilities and adapt its mandate to address emerging threats, particularly from terrorist groups;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Governments and Parliaments of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the African Union and other relevant international bodies.

12. Calls on the Commission, the European External Action Service and the Member States to systematically include, in their diplomatic engagement, dialogue on the protection of persecuted religious communities, particularly Christians;

13. Urges partner countries to take effective measures to combat religious extremism, as well as to counter radical Islamist insurgency;

14. Reaffirms its support for an African-led peace process to resolve the conflict in the eastern DRC; urges all parties to return to negotiations; calls on all sides to engage in a constructive dialogue for a lasting and peaceful resolution, in line with the African Union Peace and Security Council communiqué of its 1256th Emergency Ministerial meeting, held on 28 January 2025;

15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the United Nations Security Council, the governments and parliaments of the DRC and Rwanda, and the African Union and its institutions.