On 31 August 2012 32 civil society groups from across the Democratic Republic of the Congo wrote an open letter to President Kabange regarding the security crisis gripping the country. Armed groups which kill, rape, rob and force people into exile, such as the ‘March 23 Movement’ (M23) currently occupying a large portion of the country, have meant that an international force has been deployed to try and counter the rebellion. But the civil society groups argue here that this international force is not neutral, and that all efforts should go into mobilising national resources and supporting the national army instead. Read letter here (in French).

Seeking refuge at Kibati Camp, Goma, DRC. Photo from Oxfam uploaded under a Creative Commons licence.