Highlights: DRC: after demonstrations, Western embassies reaffirm their position on the conflict in the East. Dozens of young people organized demonstrations on Friday February 9 in front of several embassies of Western countries. They demand more vigorous intervention from the international community. After the NGOs, certain Western embassies reacted and called for a de-escalation of the situation. The US Embassy in Kinshasa made an unequivocal appeal, saying Washington supports a “ strong, stable and peaceful ” DRC.

Dozens of young people organized demonstrations on Friday February 9 in front of several embassies of Western countries. They demand more vigorous intervention from the international community…

DRC: after demonstrations, Western embassies reaffirm their position on the conflict in the East

Dozens of young people organized demonstrations on Friday February 9 in front of several embassies of Western countries. They demand more vigorous intervention from the international community to put an end to the violence in eastern DRC. After the NGOs, certain Western embassies reacted and called for a de-escalation of the situation.

A police officer in Kinshasa. REUTERS/Robert Carrubba

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Kinshasa

Patient Ligodi

On the ground, armed clashes between the FARDC and the M23 continue around 30 km from Goma, thus accentuating the already critical humanitarian crisis in the province of North Kivu. The displaced are flocking to the regional capital. At the same time, images of members of the government, their hands over their mouths and their fingers simulating a gun to their temples, circulated widely on the internet. This representation, popularized by the

DRC

national football team

, aims to denounce what some perceive as the silence of the international community in the face of the ongoing security and humanitarian crisis. It is in this context that dozens of young people demonstrated this Friday, pushing Western embassies to react and reaffirming their position in this conflict.

Read alsoDRC: the security situation in the east of the country is increasingly worrying, MSF alert

The

Embassy in Kinshasa made an unequivocal appeal, saying Washington supports a “

strong, stable and peaceful

” DRC. Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn recalled the conditions set by

Félix Tshisekedi

before any dialogue with Kigali, stressing that her country is convinced that peace can only be achieved if the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC are respected. She also reiterated the condemnation of the

M23

and accused

Rwanda

of supporting this movement, which has been under American sanctions since 2013.

In Brussels, the same tone was adopted on Friday. The Belgian Foreign Minister also asked Rwanda to cease all support for the M23, while reminding Congolese authorities of the need to ensure that loyalist forces do not collaborate with the FDLR.

For its part, the United Kingdom highlighted that more than 135,000 people were displaced in a single week in towns and villages in North and South Kivu, including tens of thousands who fled their homes following the attacks. of M23 on Wednesday February 7.

Thus, London condemned the violent offensive of the M23 and promised to support initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue and promoting a return to regional peacebuilding processes.

Official statement from the UK Embassy in Kinshasa on the recent escalation of fighting and its humanitarian impact in eastern DRC. pic.twitter.com/VOi59KIfos

— UK in DRC (@UKinDRC) February 9, 2024

It is with this in mind that Huang Xia, the United Nations special envoy for the Great Lakes region of Africa, met this week with João Lourenço. The Angolan president is mediator appointed by the African Union in this crisis.

DRC: after demonstrations, Western embassies reaffirm their position on the conflict in the East

DRC: after demonstrations, Western embassies reaffirm their position on the conflict in the East

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