Thousands of inhabitants fled following a major climbing of the conflict that has been going on for decades. They arrived at the Rwandan border, while the M23 rebels consolidate their control over the city of Goma.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, said on Tuesday to the United Nations Security Council that “Rwanda cannot continue to act with impunity”. She called on the United Nations to go beyond conviction and take concrete measures for intervention. “Words were not enough to put an end to human suffering, assault and attack on Goma. It is time for the Security Council to act”, she said.
The Minister called for the withdrawal of irregular fighters from the sovereign Congolese territory “There is no way to a lasting and peaceful resolution without this crucial stage”. She added that it was essential that the Council introduce sanctions targeting the command structure of the Rwandan defense forces “In order to undermine his ability to wage a war against the DRC and his people”.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also asked for an embargo on “The illegal exploitation and export by Rwanda of mineral resources of the DRC” in order to interrupt the financing of the attack.
On Tuesday, the United States also urged the Council to take concrete measures to end the M23 rebels’ offensive, supported by Rwanda and mainly composed of Tutsie members.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame said he agreed with the United States government to ask for a ceasefire in this conflict that has lasted for decades and for “Take the deep causes of the conflict once and for all”.
This Wednesday, January 29, a summit in the East African community is expected in Nairobi, but Félix Tshisekedi, the president of the DRC will not attend. The meeting was to bring together the head of state with his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame.
Goma’s fate seems sealed
The rebels of the M23 seem to have consolidated their control over the city of Goma, the largest city in the eastern Congo, which they claimed to have taken up on Monday.
After a major escalation of one of the longest conflicts in Africa, which left several corpses in the streets and moved hundreds of thousands of people, the city seemed relatively calm on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, thousands of people have fled, arriving at the Rwandan border.
“Millions of people have been moved. Thousands of people are trapped in the besieged city of Goma, with limited access to food, water, electricity and safety. Countless lives have been lost.said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The rebels of the M23 told the Associated Press that they planned to set up an administration in the city, which will allow displaced people to return home and continue to live normally.
The rebels are part of a hundred armed groups that endeavor to set up in the province of North Kivu in the grip of conflict, which includes Goma and which is rich in minerals essential to a large part of world technology.
