AU Peace and Security Council Calls on Rebel Groups in Eastern DRC to Immediately Cease Hostilities

The AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) called on rebel groups in the eastern DRC to immediately cease hostilities and lay down their arms.

"[The AU Peace and Security Council] demands the M23, ADF, and FDLR, other armed and terrorist groups operating in eastern DRC, to immediately and unconditionally cease their attacks and permanently disband and lay down their arms," the PSC said in a statement on Wednesday, following an emergency ministerial meeting.

The PSC emphasized that the activities of rebel forces worsened the insecurity and suffering of the population in the eastern DRC, and led to the deterioration of the dire humanitarian situation in the region.

"[The PSC] demands rapid, unimpeded, and safe humanitarian access while appealing to the international community, particularly the UN humanitarian agencies, to enhance their efforts in the mobilization of resources and appeals to international partners to upscale humanitarian assistance in Goma and surrounding areas," read the statement.

The PSC also proposed to hold a meeting on the situation in eastern DRC at the head of state and government level on the margins of the upcoming AU assembly in February.

Following the PSC ministerial meeting, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) called for an urgent summit, organized with the EAC, the Economic Community of Central African States, the SADC, as well as the DRC, Rwanda, and the AU.

"We call for unwavering commitment to the August 2024 ceasefire agreement and an urgent resumption of dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda," ICGLR noted in a press release.

According to the press release, the ICGLR continues to monitor the situation in the North Kivu province in the DRC.

Heads of the East African Community's states held an online extraordinary summit on Wednesday to discuss the situation in the DRC.

The EAC agreed that DRC President Tshisekedi should engage in dialogue with his armed opponents.

"The summit called for a peaceful settlement of the conflicts and strongly urged the government of the DRC to directly engage with all stakeholders, including the M23 and other armed groups that have grievances," read the statement.

Additionally, the EAC agreed to convene an urgent summit jointly with SADC to seek a lasting solution to this situation.

"Noting that the South African Development Community (SADC) has also been involved in eastern DRC, the summit decided on a joint EAC-SADC summit to deliberate on the way forward and mandated the chairperson to consult with the chairperson of SADC on the urgent convening of the same in the next few days," the community noted.

The extraordinary SADC summit on the security situation in the DRC, initially scheduled for Thursday, will be held on Friday in the Zimbabwean capital Harare.

"The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will convene an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government on 31st January 2025 in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe, to discuss the security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo," read the statement.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame said that South African troops, which are part of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), have no place on the battlefield, adding that his country is ready to deal with any confrontation from Pretoria.

"SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force, and it has no place in this situation. [...] South Africa is in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker or mediator. And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day," Kagame wrote on X.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warned Rwanda's Kagame that any armed attack on the South African troops of the SAMIDRC would be a declaration of war, according to the South African defense minister.

"There are also discussions which include Rwanda because it is alleged to be one of the big perpetrators; that is why we are keeping communications with them. They have been friendly; there has been no hostility against us; it's just when they were firing above our heads. The president did warn them [Rwanda], if you are going to fire, we will take it as a declaration of war, and we will have to defend our people," Defense Minister Angie Motshekga told a media briefing on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Kigali supports a ceasefire across the eastern DRC, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe told a Western media outlet.

Demonstrations against Rwanda's aggression reportedly resumed in the DRC capital Kinshasa on Wednesday, despite a ban by the city's governor, but were soon dispersed by police patrols.

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DRC President Refuses to Participate in Emergency EAC Summit on Situation in the Country

29 January, 18:07

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi was on a visit to Angola on Wednesday for consultations on the following steps within the framework of the Luanda Process, taking into account the situation in Goma, the Angolan presidency said.

"Within the framework of the mediation efforts undertaken by President Joao Lourenco, with a view to the restoration of peace and security in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the president of that neighboring country, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, traveled today to Luanda for a joint analysis of the following steps to give in the context of the Luanda Process, taking into account the situation created with the taking of Goma by rebel forces," the presidency said on social media.

The fighting has created a critical humanitarian situation in the city of Goma, according to several humanitarian organizations.

"Food is running out. Water is scarce. Hospitals are overwhelmed. The next 24 hours are critical. The World Food Program (WFP) is ready to resume food assistance as soon as it’s safe. But we need humanitarian access now," the WFP said in a statement.

In an address to the Congolese people on the escalating situation in the North Kivu province, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi condemned international organizations' inaction amid clashes between the country's forces and the M23 rebel group and called on the nation to unite to repel what he called "Rwanda's barbaric aggression."

"Let us unite as one to defend our sovereignty and preserve our territorial integrity.[...] I therefore call on the entire nation, men and women, young and old, political players, economic operators, members of civil society, religious denominations, artists and sportsmen and women, to rally behind our valiant armed forces and contribute to the war effort, each at his or her own level," the president stated.

The Netherlands has temporarily closed its embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), following an attack by protesters, Dutch newspaper Telegraaf reported, citing the country's foreign ministry.

On Tuesday, the Dutch diplomatic mission was attacked by demonstrators.

"Fortunately, the protesters did not enter the building, and none of the staff were injured," a ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

On Tuesday morning, protests also targeted the embassies of France, the United States, Belgium, Rwanda and Uganda, accusing them of supporting the M23 rebel group in the eastern DRC. Protesters looted the Rwandan and Ugandan embassies and erected barricades in Kinshasa. At the same time, rallies in support of the Congolese army and the affected populations took place throughout the country.

Opinion

Protests in DRC Target Western Embassies Over Alleged Support for Rwandan Aggression: Pan-Africanist

28 January, 15:47

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reportedly arrived in the DRC on Thursday. He was due to meet Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, according to reports.