Issue Brief
Stop Arms Trafficking to Abusive Armed Groups in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Despite peace agreements in 2003 and a UN arms embargo initially imposed in July 2003, weapons and munitions, including U.S. made weapons, continue to reach armed groups known for flagrant human rights abuses in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These armed groups use weapons to kill, maim, and rape civilians as well as to control and exploit rich mineral resources such as cassiterite, coltan, gold, and diamonds, endangering the fragile peace agreements. In May 2004, for example, dissident elements of the armed group RCD-Goma killed more than 60 people and raped more than 100 women and girls in South Kivu, eastern DRC. According to the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUC), arms found in the possession of RCD-Goma included U.S. arms, most likely from black market transactions.
Amnesty International has evidence that the governments of Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC – all recipients of U.S. foreign military training – have allowed arms transfers to abusive armed groups in the DRC. For example, documents reveal that the Rwandan military approved an illegal transfer of arms and ammunition to the ANC (military wing of RCD-Goma) in South Kivu, eastern DRC in August 2003. NGOs based in the DRC also accused the Rwandan government of supporting dissident members of RCD-Goma in an armed attack in February 2004. In the case of Uganda, the UN Group of Experts listed several instances where militias in Ituri, eastern DRC received arms from Uganda. The UN Group criticized the Ugandan government for not stationing qualified customs officials at strategic border posts, enabling a coalition of soldiers from the FAPC/UCPD groups in Ituri, eastern DRC to trade in illegal produce. Ugandan military authorities have also supported FAPC soldiers who control and exploit gold mining in Ituri.
According to UN reports, the current DRC government appears to have allowed several alleged shipments of arms to pro-government militias in eastern DRC, even during the UN arms embargo. In October 2003 and several times after that, MONUC was reportedly prevented by DRC government forces from inspecting the cargo of a plane believed to be carrying arms to armed groups into South Kivu, eastern DRC. The UN also received reports about DRC government links with arms supplies to Mayi-Mayi forces via airstrips in South Kivu. Mayi-Mayi militias have been associated with DRC government forces and are responsible for numerous rapes and killings of civilians.
Arms brokers and air transport companies, some with U.S. assets, appear also to play a prominent role in arms trafficking into eastern DRC. Yuri Sidorov, the Russian owner of Volga Atlantic Airlines, reportedly worked closely with the government of Rwanda to supply the RCD opposition movement. The notorious arms trafficker, Victor Bout, continues to be linked to the arming of armed opposition groups supported by Rwanda and Uganda. A plane owned by a U.S. based company, Simax llc from Oregon, was also caught flying in the DRC in July 2004 without proper documentation. The former operators of this same plane were alleged to be involved in illegal arms trafficking. Given U.S. connections to the area and U.S. support for peace in the DRC, it is imperative that the U.S. government support efforts to better control arms trafficking into eastern DRC.
Amnesty International USA Recommendations:
- U.S. government should press the governments of Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC to investigate, punish, and prevent illegal arms transfers into the DRC, to cooperate fully with the UN, and to ensure that their borders are effectively monitored.
- The U.S. government should push for a global agreement to better control arms brokering, including air transport companies, and investigate persons and companies under U.S. jurisdiction that have violated aviation regulations in the Great Lakes area for possible arms trafficking into eastern DRC.
