The rise of tensions between Rwanda and the DRC worries the African Union
Aïssata Tall Sall, Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad.
© @AïssataOfficiel/Twitter
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
On Saturday, Rwanda said two of its soldiers were being held captive after they were kidnapped by rebels in the DRC.
For its part, Kinshasa accuses its neighbor of attacks on its soil.
Senegalese President Macky Sall, also current chairman of the African Union, expressed his "
serious concern
" on Sunday, and called on the two countries for calm and dialogue.
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With our correspondent in Dakar,
Charlotte Idrac
If calm returned this morning, on Sunday the fighting between the Congolese army, supported by blue helmets, and the rebel movement of the M23 took place north of Goma, in the territory of Rutshuru towards Runyo-nyi and Rugari in the border area of Rwanda.
This country is accused by Kinshasa of supporting the M23.
Sunday, villagers of Biruma, a town located about twenty kilometers from the Rwandan border
captured two Rwandan soldiers
, confirms the Congolese army.
The Rwandan forces claim that these soldiers were arrested by the FDLR, another rebel group.
"
Everything can go wrong
", worries the Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs Aïssata Tall Sall, joined by RFI.
Faced with the "
risk of escalation
", Senegal, at the presidency of the AU, therefore pleads for negotiations, under the leadership of the Angolan head of state.
"
President Macky Sall consulted with President João Lourenço of Angola, who not only had replaced him as president of the summit
[of the AU this weekend in Malabo, editor's note]
, but in his capacity as member of the geographic region where all of this is taking place.
He therefore discussed with him to ask him to take the lead
[the conduct, Ed]
of the negotiations under the cover of the African Union.
»
Macky Sall is in contact with the Rwandan and Congolese presidents, says Aïssata Tall Sall.
She herself spoke with her two counterparts.
“
We have good hopes of at least being able to silence the guns while waiting to arrive at the politico-diplomatic solution in the most urgent way in this sensitive part of Africa where there are already many problems. humanitarian and human rights.
We must do everything to prevent this from getting worse.
»
A new source of concern for the African Union, as relations between Rwanda and the DRC began to relax in 2019, after the election of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi.
President Macky Sall expresses his deep concern about the escalation that is taking place.
Aïssata Tall Sall
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African Union
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