UN urges ‘immediate’ halt to cross-border clashes in eastern DRC

The decision comes amid new tensions and clashes between the DR Congo and Rwanda.

A Congolese military tank heads in the direction of the entrance traces on Could 25, 2022 as DRC troopers fought M23 rebels and Kinshasa appeared to implicate Rwanda within the violent flare-up [Arlette Bashizi/AFP]

The United Nations has urged all events concerned in rising rigidity between Kinshasa and Kigali to “instantly stop all types of violence” in border areas between Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Recurring battle between the DRC and Rwanda flared anew final month amid violent clashes alongside the border between the 2 African international locations, which have accused one another of supporting armed teams and even, in latest days, of launching cross-border assaults.

“We're involved over the deteriorating safety state of affairs in japanese Democratic Republic of the Congo,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres, stated in an announcement on Saturday.

Dujarric decried an “improve of assaults towards civilians” by Congolese rebels and “the continued presence of different international armed teams,” notably the anti-Kigali group referred to as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), “which proceed to pose a menace to regional stability”.

“We reaffirm our sturdy dedication to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC and strongly condemn the usage of proxies,” he stated.

US ‘alarmed’

Dujarric stated the UN “absolutely helps” the efforts of the African Union, which just lately tabbed Angola President Joao Lourenco to mediate the disaster between Kinshasa and Kigali.

For its half, the US Division of State stated on Twitter that it was “alarmed by studies of cross-border assaults between the DRC and Rwanda leading to lack of life”.

“We search for accountable, constructive management” from the presidents of the DRC and Rwanda, the US added.

Relations between the 2 international locations have been tense because the arrival within the japanese DRC of hundreds of Rwandan Hutus – the ethnic group accused of getting massacred a whole bunch of hundreds of members of the Tutsi minority throughout the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

A thaw within the relationship between the neighbours adopted the 2019 arrival of Felix Tshisekedi as DRC president, however tensions have sharpened once more since final month.