EN 
NL 
On 21 March, we gathered at Pakhuis de Zwijger for an evening focusing on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was an evening characterised by engagement and the need to collectively reflect on a conflict that has remained under the radar for too long. While the world went about its business outside, people came in to listen, inform themselves and recognise the urgency of the situation in the DRC. This conflict often gets little and only one-sidedly attention in the media, which fails to capture the complexity of the conflict. Finally state the conflict in DRC on the political agenda of the House of Representatives. The evening revolved around making the crisis visible and the need for action. The evening was opened by Kido Koenig, who led the political café as moderator. Throughout the evening, we delved deeper into the many layers of this complex conflict.
With the poignant title "They killed my little brother", Magendane shared his personal story. Last month, he lost his brother in the DRC. For many in the Netherlands, the conflict in Congo remains an abstract concept, Magendane succeeded in giving the conflict a face. Congolese diaspora try to create connection between here and there. Congo's raw materials, which we use in technology every day, connect us directly to the conflict.
Magendane argued that it is time for change, now that Congo is finally being discussed in the Netherlands with Congolese. His story was not an abstract memory, but a call to acknowledge the conflict and give the diaspora a voice. "Congo is not a distant war," he said. "It is a struggle that also affects us."
After Kiza Magendane's opening, the first panel of the political café started with two more participants: Nynke Douma and Ewing Amadi Salumu. Douma, country representative for the DRC at VNG International, has lived in Goma for four years and has worked in the Kivus since 2003. Salumu, journalist and human rights activist, has experience at Radio Okapi, Search For Common Ground and Centre Lokole-DRC. Together with moderator Kido Koenig gave them a picture of the dramatic situation in the DRC, where the population faces violence and insecurity on a daily basis. The root causes of the conflict are often misrepresented by the media. The conflict is often presented as a resource conflict or an ethnic conflict, but this does not fully grasp the internal factors and complexity of the conflict.
The discussion also covered solutions, both at the individual and collective level. "Attend evenings like this one," was advised. "Congo needs attention. Awareness is the first step to change." Congo needs attention, and by having these conversations, we can help raise awareness. At the national level, we need to work on different processes of dialogue, focusing not only on the high-political talks between DRC and Rwanda, but especially on the engagement of the average Congolese, who has been living in this conflict for 30 years. Crucially, internal factors must be looked at and governance in Congo strengthened, with a focus on long-term solutions. A strong government in Congo and sustainable solutions are crucial.
At the international level, it was stressed that Congo always serves international consumers. Other countries benefit from the country's chaos. "For too long the focus has been on temporary peace, without justice," it was said. "The Netherlands can play a leading role in this." The evening ended with a strong appeal: "Do not leave the Congolese to their fate any longer."
The second panel focused on what politicians can do to address the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. One of the main suggestions was to improve trade relations. The focus should now be on fair and sustainable trade relations that contribute to Congo's stability and prosperity. It was stressed that Europe, with its green ambitions, must not make the same mistakes as in the past, when the focus was too much on short-term gains instead of real justice and structural solutions. The international community should focus on long-term, sustainable solutions that respect both the environmental and social rights of the countries concerned.
Another important approach discussed was treating Rwanda in the same way as Russia. It was argued that if Rwanda had received the same international pressure earlier, the situation might have come to an end much sooner. The strength of the Congolese diaspora, which is now increasingly connecting on an international level, was again discussed. It is essential that governments in the West work hard with the diaspora to resolve the conflict in Congo so that the voice of Congolese is also represented. It was also stressed that we must continue to treat each other as human beings because every time we do not, we lose a piece of our humanity. It called for a concerted effort to stop the suffering and find the faces behind the stories. This could serve as a starting point with a strong condemnation of injustice and effective protection of the international rule of law.
The audience also provided valuable input during the political café, with critical questions and nice additions that further deepened the conversation. This interaction was a welcome addition to the discussion. After the café, there was time for drinks, where discussions continued and the audience had a chance to engage with the speakers. Now the focus shifts to tonight's committee debate, where we will see how the House of Representatives will respond to this conflict. The time has come for justice for the Congolese. The international community can no longer look away.
The second panel focused on what politicians can do to address the crisis in the DRC. One suggestion was to improve fair and sustainable trade relations that contribute to stability and prosperity in Congo. Europe should avoid making the same mistakes as in the past, where short-term gains were seen as more important than justice and structural solutions. The focus should be on long-term solutions, with respect for environmental and social rights.
Another key issue was the international approach to Rwanda. It was argued that Rwanda should be treated in the same way as Russia: with sanctions and international pressure. According to speakers, this might have de-escalated the situation sooner.
The role of the Congolese diaspora was again highlighted: they play a crucial role in bringing attention to the conflict and mobilising support. Governments in the West must work with the diaspora to find structural solutions so that Congolese voices are heard. "Every time we fail to treat each other as human beings, we lose a piece of our humanity," was stated by Mpanzu Bamenga.
The panellists called for concrete action to stop the suffering and make the people behind the stories visible. They stressed the need for a strong statement against injustice, coupled with active protection of the international rule of law.
The audience also contributed with sharp questions and valuable insights, which further enriched the discussion. After the political café, conversations continued informally over drinks.
The committee debate 25 March
Last night, the committee debate on the wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan took place. The debate attracted many MPs. Sarah Dobbe stressed that the conflicts in DRC and Sudan should be treated in the same way as other conflicts worldwide.
Members were critical of the dual stance of Europe and the Netherlands. Daniëlle Hirsch (GroenLinks-PvdA) noted: "Working effectively on the root causes of conflicts means that we must stop giving aid with one hand, while with the other hand, by our actions, we perpetuate these conflicts." A large majority called for measures such as more sanctions against Rwanda, long-term emergency aid and the retention of the Great Lakes programme, recently announced by Minister Klever to be halted. Nonetheless, substantial commitments from Minister Klever failed to materialise.
This debate highlights all the more the importance for the diaspora and Dutch citizens to keep these urgent crises on the political agenda. It is time for justice for DRC and Sudan.
