In this policy brief, and in preparation for the upcoming negotiations concerning the new resolution on the withdrawal of MONUSCO, the Europe-Central Africa Network (EurAc) provides a comprehensive analysis of the main challenges associated with this withdrawal, as well as a series of recommendations aimed at ensuring a secure, gradual transition that is responsive to changes in the security context, in which civil society plays a crucial role.
- Advocacy
- Peace & Security
Peace & Security
Peace & Security
Political and security tensions threaten the stability, security and development in the Great Lakes region.
EurAc advocates around issues of civilian protection, support for security programs, including the reforms of the security sector and the processes of disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation, reintegration and resettlement of armed groups combatants, and support for peace processes.
Our latest positions and publications
18/10/2024 - Policy Brief - (EN/FR)
DRC, United Nations - Peace & Security
02/09/2024 - Communiqué - (EN/FR)
European Union, Great Lakes - Peace & Security
EurAc members would like to express their most sincere congratulations to Mr. Johan Borgstam on his recent appointment as EU Special Representative for the Great Lakes. Coming at a crucial time for the future of the region, this appointment marks a significant step forward in the EU’s commitment to fostering peace, stability and sustainable development, while signaling a renewed diplomatic engagement with the countries of the Great Lakes.
27/08/2024 - Open Letter - (EN/FR)
DRC, Great Lakes, Rwanda - Peace & Security
The Europe-Central Africa network and Pax Christi International have issued an open letter following the recent webinar "Towards Sustainable Peace in the DRC". This letter addresses the escalating crisis in the DRC and underscores the urgent need for action from all stakeholders. While the recent ceasefire between Rwanda and the DRC is a step forward, ongoing violations and worsening humanitarian conditions require more than temporary truces.
26/03/2024 - Policy Brief - (FR)
DRC, European Union - Peace & Security
Resolving a potentially devastating conflict and establishing lasting peace in Eastern DRC is a priority, both for the new Congolese government and for the international community. Given the urgency of the situation, the members of EurAc are calling on the EU and its Member States to set their sights on preventing the situation from collapsing.
19/01/2021 - Policy Brief - (EN)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Peace & Security
In February 2021, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will take over the rotating Presidency of the African Union for the next 12 months. The Congolese government will do so amid a deepening political crisis at home, arising from an ongoing power struggle between the current President Félix Tshisekedi and the former President Joseph Kabila's political coalitions. It is of the utmost importance that the EU and its Member States insist that the DRC government will start making all the necessary provisions to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections in 2023. This includes the transformation of the CENI into a technical, impartial, and politically independent electoral body and the timely reservation of funds to finance the election process.
18/11/2020 - Open Letter - (EN)
European Union - Peace & Security
EU governments are negotiating a new funding instrument that presents a fundamental shift towards a more military approach in EU foreign policy, and risks causing large-scale civilian harm around the world. The European Union risks fuelling conflict and human rights abuses around the world if it adopts the European Peace Facility (EPF) in its current form, warn 40 civil society organisations with expertise on peace, human rights and the protection of civilians.
21/08/2020 - Open Letter - (EN/FR)
Burundi, United Nations - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Peace & Security
Ahead of the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council (#HRC45), EurAc and 42 other civil society organisations write to urge States to support the renewal of the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Burundi.
25/07/2019 - Press release - (FR)
Burundi, European Union - Peace & Security
FR - Although the European Union (EU) has stopped direct cooperation with the Burundian government since 2016 because of grave human rights violations perpetrated in the country, France has announced on 14 July 2019 that it would recover bilateral cooperation with the Burundian government. EurAc is especially worried about the attribution of French money to the Burundian military sector when the country's security forces are pointed at for their implication in grave human rights abuses. EurAc asks the French government to promptly reconsider its decision to restart direct cooperation with Burundi and to remain supportive of the decisions taken by the EU and its member states.
19/06/2019 - Memorandum - (EN)
DRC - All thematics, Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Natural Resources, Peace & Security
In the post-electoral framework of the European Union, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) publishes its 2019 memorandum on democracy, human rights and natural resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, aiming to equip newly elected MEPs with an overview of the main dynamics shaping the Great Lakes region and the two countries and to instil new impetus on European policies towards the region.
19/06/2019 - Memorandum - (EN)
Rwanda - All thematics, Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Natural Resources, Peace & Security
In the post-electoral framework of the European Union, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) publishes its 2019 memorandum on democracy, human rights and natural resources in Rwanda, aiming to equip newly elected MEPs with an overview of the main dynamics shaping the Great Lakes region and the two countries and to instil new impetus on European policies towards the region.
19/06/2019 - Press release - (EN)
Burundi, Central Africa, DRC, European Union, Great Lakes, Rwanda - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Natural Resources, Peace & Security
Within the post-electoral context of the European Union, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) publishes two memorandums on democracy, human rights and natural resources in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, aiming to provide newly elected MEPs with an overview of the main dynamics shaping the Great Lakes region and both countries, and to give new impetus on European policies towards the region.
17/04/2019 - Annual Report - (EN)
- All thematics, Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Natural Resources, Peace & Security
The European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) publishes its annual report for 2018, highlighting the activities and publications of the secretariat and the members in 2018, it's 15th anniversary year. Contents: - Editorial by François Mercier, President of EurAc- The new EurAc Strategy 2018-2020: Towards an increased EU support to the people in the Great Lakes Region- 2018 for EurAc in numbers - Our work at the EU level in 2018- Our member organisations in action- Our publications and our presence in the media- Financial situation in 2018
15/05/2018 - Report - (EN/FR)
Burundi, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Peace & Security
In its new report “Authoritarian abuses and covert elimination of dissident voices in Burundi. What role for the European Union?” launched today on the occasion of a press conference organised in Brussels, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) firmly urges the European Union (EU) and its member states to take a much stronger position through bold and concrete actions to stop authoritarian abuses and silencing of dissident voices, particularly in the context of the highly contested referendum that is being organised this Thursday 17 May and which has been characterized by brutal and even murderous repression of all critical voices.
28/03/2018 - Annual Report - (EN/FR)
Burundi, DRC, European Union, Rwanda - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Natural Resources, Peace & Security
The European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) publishes its annual report for 2017, highlighting the activities and publications of the secretariat and the members in 2017 as well as looking forward to it's 15th anniversary in 2018.
07/12/2016 - Report - (EN/FR)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Peace & Security
With this new report, the European network for Central Africa (EurAc) wishes to draw the attention of European political decision-makers, at all levels of power, to the gravity and the risks of the situation in the DRC. The next step is to provide them with action plans, on the one hand for the adoption of strong and urgent measures to prevent this crisis leading to a serious escalation of violence and a regional security crisis, and on the other to support the electoral process in such a way as to bring the country out of the current stalemate. These action plans stem from an assessment of the current political situation and the security risks in the DRC, and the responses that the EU and its Member States have provided so far and those that they should strengthen in order to prevent a further escalation of violence and new abuses in the DRC.
02/06/2016 - Report - (EN/FR)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Peace & Security
The European Union can play an essential role in keeping the ongoing political turmoil in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from escalating into a national and regional security
27/04/2016 - Open Letter - (EN)
Burundi, European Union - Peace & Security
As Burundian, African and international NGOs deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Burundi, EurAc strongly urges the UN Security Council to authorize the deployment of a robust police protection and monitoring presence as soon as possible.
18/02/2016 - Report - (EN/FR)
DRC, European Union - Peace & Security
The processes of peace, stabilization and development in the Great Lakes region in Africa are confronted with numerous obstacles. The political and security tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) represent a threat to stability, security and development for the region as a whole. A number of international actors including the European union (EU) and the United nations (UN) have been playing an active role in terms of support to the development of Security Sector Reform (SSR), protection of civilians, security and stabilization programmes.
17/12/2015 - Policy Brief - (FR)
Burundi, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Peace & Security
FR - Le Réseau européen pour l’Afrique centrale (EurAc) et ses membres condamnent l’inquiétante escalade des violences ces derniers jours au Burundi et tiennent à exprimer leur solidarité aux organisations de la société civile burundaise. Ils appellent la Communauté Internationale, et l’UE en particulier, à répondre avec fermeté à la dégradation alarmante de la situation politique et sécuritaire au Burundi, et à prendre des mesures fortes afin de prévenir le glissement vers une guerre civile qui aurait inévitablement des répercussions dramatiques sur la région des Grand Lacs.
01/10/2014 - Memorandum - (EN/FR)
Burundi, Central Africa, DRC, European Union, Great Lakes, Rwanda, United Nations - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Natural Resources, Peace & Security
In this memorandum EurAc presents an analysis of the regional challenges and specific challenges for each of the three countries (DRC, Burundi & Rwanda), which the EU must take into consideration in order to effectively and sustainably support peace and democracy in Central Africa. This analysis is supplemented by recommendations addressed to the various competent European political decision-makers.