Last week’s amnesty by the DRC government could help calm down flaring political tempers.

In pursuance to the Amnesty Act of February 11, 2014 voted by Parliament and signed by President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, the government on Saturday, April 19, 2014, released the list of the 51 first beneficiaries of the clemency. The pardon concerns insurgency and political crimes committed between January 2006 and December 20, 2013.

In return, those granted reprieve must sign forms committing to denounce rebellion and not to commit any more offences. According to sources, a total of 15 of the recipients are of the M 23 rebel group that was defeated last year by the army in an unprecedented offensive that was backed by the UN Special Intervention Brigade. The government earlier this year reached a peace deal with the defeated rebels after talks in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

Other clemency beneficiaries are 15 people accused of carrying out attacks in the DRC capital, Kinshasa, in February 2011 and 10 fighters from the Popular Resistance Army, APR of dissident General, Faustin Munene. Some 10 other militiamen belonging to Ngbanda Honoré who is exiled in France, also benefitted from the Act. Observers note that the measure has the potential to cool down the polity after years of instability.

Pursuing The Peace Process

The DRC army defeated M 23 rebels in November 2013 and, one month later, both parties signed declarations reflecting among others, the insurgents’ renunciation of war and their decision to transform into a legitimate political party. The publication of the first set of names of amnesty beneficiaries is now expected to pave the way for a quicker implementation of the deal. Government officials were due in Uganda last week to get former M 23 combatants to sign the commitment-to-non-violence forms.

M 23 and other former combatants concerned by the decision are henceforth expected to formally renounce the use of violence as a political tool and then undergo a Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration, DDR programme, with a closer follow up of scheduled activities.  

More Beneficiaries Coming

Prospects for lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo now appear even brighter after the April 19, 2014 announcement made it clear that more people would benefit from the amnesty. Hundreds of former rebels are awaiting disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, especially in the eastern part of the country after voluntarily handing themselves in. This followed the United Nations Special Intervention Brigade offensive in August 2013 to rid the region of armed groups. The coming on board of these ex-combatants could make much difference to the stability of the country that has been plagued by years of recurrent armed conflicts.   

Cooling down The Polity

The move also has the potential to help prevent overheating the increasingly tense political atmosphere in the country ahead of crucial presidential elections in two years. The opposition and civil society have been warning against any changes to the constitution that could allow President Joseph Kabila run for a third term in 2016.

Carrot And Stick, Neighbours

With the no-nonsense 3,000-strong UN Special Intervention Brigade still very much around, enough deterrence now appears to be in place to combat lawlessness in DRC. Combining amnesty with threats of UN attacks against recalcitrant militias might do the trick of restoring stability in the DRC and improving often troubled relations with neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda. Also, hemming in ‘negative forces’ in the east that are hostile to the two neighbours through UN military operations and offering State pardon might go a long way in facilitating the peace process.

After their defeat, M 23’s military leader, Gen. Sultani Makenga sought protection in Uganda along with 1,600 of his fighters. Benjamin Mbonimpa, the M 23 Executive Secretary, admits that most of the movement’s members are scattered in various refugee settlements in Uganda and Rwanda. Reaching out to all these people is important for the success of the recent clemency.