DRC: diplomacy is activated after the advance of the M23
A FARDC soldier during a security patrol around Kiwanja airfield, near Rutshuru, 70 kilometers from the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
(Illustration) AFP - GUERCHOM NDEBO
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The advance of the M23 in Rutshuru is still making headlines in the DRC.
The rebels have been occupying the towns of Rutshuru-centre and Kiwanja since the weekend and some have approached Rumangabo about 40 km from Goma, the provincial capital.
This weekend, several diplomatic levers were activated to achieve de-escalation.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa
,
Patient Ligodi
From Brussels,
the European Union
increased contacts with Kinshasa and Kigali this weekend.
The goal, informs a diplomatic source, is to quickly achieve a cessation of hostilities and the resumption of the political process.
The United States did the same.
They condemned the advance of the M23 and once again called for an end to support for this movement.
The US State Department's Bureau of African Affairs spoke directly by telephone with senior Congolese and Rwandan authorities, calling for dialogue and regional mediation.
This is also the opinion of the African Union which split a press release signed by the current president, Macky Sall, and the president of the Commission Moussa Faki.
On the United Nations side, Antonio Guterres called Rwandan President Paul Kagame directly.
He insisted on peaceful ways and on respecting the commitments made within the framework of the Nairobi and Luanda processes.
► To read also: DRC: civil society is concerned about the humanitarian situation with the advance of the M23
In this regard, Félix Tshisekedi received, on Sunday, Téte António, Angolan Minister of External Relations.
The diplomat exchanged with the Congolese Head of State on the evolution of the situation and transmitted to the Congolese President a correspondence from President João Lourenço, mediator appointed by the African Union.
Everything is done so that the M23 does not advance any further and that it withdraws from the areas conquered in recent days, informs a source at the Congolese presidency.
The evolution of the situation has, in any case, further poisoned relations between the DRC and Rwanda.
The Rwandan ambassador posted in Kinshasa
is also asked to leave the Congolese capital on Monday.
►
To read also
: Headlines: tension is rising between the DRC and Rwanda
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