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Citizens First president, Harry Kalaba, has expressed concern over the rising death toll in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as fighting between government forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels intensifies.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kalaba noted that the conflict, which had claimed approximately 8,500 lives since January, could also severely impact trade between Zambia and the DRC.
“This means almost 300 people die monthly in Congo, including women and children, which I think is criminal,” said the former Minister of Foreign Affairs.
He urged the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the United Nations (UN), and regional leaders to intensify efforts to resolve the crisis, warning that the ongoing war threatens to destabilize the region.
“In an era of diplomacy, we shouldn’t have thousands of people dying when the Congo conflict, which has raged for decades, could be slowed or even ended with concerted efforts from regional leaders, including Zambia,” Kalaba said.
He attributed the violence in eastern DRC, near the Rwandan border, to competition over the country’s vast mineral resources, despite M23 rebels claiming they are defending the Tutsi minority.
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Kalaba noted that Uganda and Burundi are already engaged in the conflict, with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni deploying troops along the DRC border, while South Africa has lost 15 peacekeeping soldiers.
Zambia, which shares a 1,900-kilometer border with the DRC, must take a special interest in resolving the crisis to save lives and safeguard trade, he added.
Kalaba recalled Zambia’s history of sheltering Congolese refugees during past conflicts, emphasizing that the people of the DRC, despite their country’s mineral wealth, have endured instability for decades.
“The Congolese people are fatigued and traumatized by war. They deserve peace, and Zambia, through regional bodies like SADC, must play its part in ensuring stability,” he said.
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