Yesterday, the African Union expressed its deep concern about the deteriorating security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the rebels have finally made progress on the ground.
In a joint statement, the rotating president of the federation, Macky Sall, and the chair of the federation's commission, Musa Faki Mahamat, called on all parties to establish an immediate ceasefire, respect for international law, the safety and security of civilians, and stability at the borders of all countries in the region.
On the other hand, the two men urged all concerned parties to engage in constructive dialogue within the framework of the African Union Mechanism for Peace, Security and Cooperation for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region, and the Inter-Congolese Peace Dialogue led by the East African Community.
Sall and Faki Mahamat also called on all parties to participate in good faith in the Third Inter-Congolese Peace Dialogue, to be held from 4 to 13 November 2022.
The African Union has expressed its "full support for Rwanda's road map for the normalization of political relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda".
The Federation also encouraged Angolan President Joao Lourenço to continue his mission as a facilitator of the constructive dialogue between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.
And on Saturday, the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced the expulsion of the Rwandan ambassador to it, as the battles intensified in the east of the country against the "M23" movement, which Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting.
This decision came after the meeting of the Higher Defense Council of the Democratic Republic of the Congo headed by President Felix Tshisekedi, who reported the massive arrival of elements of the Rwandan army in order to support the M23 to launch a massive attack on the positions of the Congolese armed forces.
The renewed tension in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo prompted the United Nations Mission in the country (MONUSCO) to raise the level of readiness of its forces to support the Congolese army against the movement.
It is noteworthy that the "March 23 Movement", known by its acronym "M23", is a Congolese militia composed of individuals belonging to the Tutsi ethnicity, which resumed fighting at the end of last year, accusing Kinshasa of not respecting the agreements on the reintegration of its fighters.
In June, the movement captured the border town of Bunagana with Uganda, and after weeks of calm it has advanced since October 20 into Rutshuru territory, prompting tens of thousands of residents to flee.