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Belgian "laxity" condemned

Meanwhile, two Belgian NGOs, members of the Concertation chretienne pour l'Afrique centrale (CCAC), have accused Michel of a "lax attitude" towards Rwanda and Uganda, concerning the fighting between the two countries' armies in Kisangani earlier this month. In a statement, issued ahead of the minister's visit to the DRC, the Broederlijk Delen and Entraide et Fraternite accused Michel of failing to publicly condemn the human rights violations by the two armies. Neither had Belgium taken any initiative in support of the UN Secretary-General's call to invoke Chapter 7 of the UN Charter in a bid to compel Rwanda and Uganda to withdraw from Kisangani, the statement said. "The Belgian government can and must do more," it stressed. It called for public condemnations by the government and said Belgium should demand that those responsible for the fighting be exposed and the victims compensated. Belgium should also suggest that all financial aid to Rwanda and Uganda by the EU, the World Bank and IMF be put on hold until both countries met the demands, the statement said. A "principled attitude" by Belgium towards Uganda and Rwanda would in no way suggest the government was favouring President Kabila and his allies, it added.

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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