Following a lightning onslaught, the rebel forces of M23 movement allegedly backed by Rwanda took control of nearly the whole city of Goma, a vital hub for the trade of minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in late January 2025.

DRC Parliament Convenes Extraordinary Session to Address 'Crisis of Violence' in Country's East

17:41, 5 February 2025

Elizaveta Roschina

Writer/Editor

All materials

On Tuesday, an emergency session of the two chambers of the DRC parliament, the National Assembly and the Senate, the lower and upper houses, respectively, was convened to address the heightened security situation in the country's eastern province, North Kivu, following the capture of the city of Goma by the M23 rebels.

Sputnik

An extraordinary session of the Democratic Republic of Congo's parliament convened on Tuesday, aimed at finding solutions and strategies to resolve the long-term crisis in the east of the country, Congolese member of parliament Jacques Djoli said, announcing the session.

"The convening of the extraordinary session of the National Assembly and the Senate […] this session is convened primarily to assess the situation and, in particular, to strategize a way out of the crisis of blind violence, a war in which we have been immersed for 30 years in the east of our territory and which endangers the entire Great Lakes region," Djoli pointed out.

The DRC's parliament must present and propose strategies for a lasting peace in the east of the country, President of the National Assembly Vital Kamerhe stated at the opening of the chamber's session.

"Our country is once again faced with an unjust war that imposes unclassifiable barbaric atrocities on innocent people, discarding any expression of humanity in favor of the incomprehensible interests of those who have deliberately chosen to oppose peace, against progress, against the cohesion and precious brotherhood of Africa," Kamerhe noted.

The passivity of the international community is an affront not only to the Democratic Republic of the Congo but also to the universal values of the republic, President of the Senate Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde said, echoing President Felix Tshisekedi's words.

"Since independence, our country has been the target of an organized international conspiracy fueled by greed for the priceless riches of our land and subsoil. Unfortunately, this natural blessing has led to a spiral of conflict and insecurity at every crucial stage of our political development," Lukonde pointed out.

M23 Rebels Offensive in DR Congo (2025)

Over 2,000 Killed in Battles Buried Near City of Goma in Eastern DRC

5 February, 10:35