U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kenyan President William Ruto called for an immediate ceasefire in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo during a phone conversation, the State Department announced on Friday.
Context
An advance by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels has marked the gravest escalation in more than a decade of a long-running conflict in eastern Congo, rooted in the spillover of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide into Congo and the struggle for control of Congo’s vast mineral resources.
Rwanda rejects allegations from Congo, the United Nations and Western powers that it supports M23 with arms and troops.
Why It’s Important
The United States said a day earlier that it was imposing sanctions on a Rwandan government minister and a senior member of an armed group for their alleged roles in the conflict.
In a diplomatic note seen by Reuters earlier this month, the U.S. said that stability in the region will require the Rwandan military “to withdraw its forces and advanced weaponry” from Congo.
Key Quotes
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto to discuss the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, including the unacceptable capture of Goma and Bukavu by the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group,” the State Department said.
Noting that both Rubio and Ruto called for an immediate ceasefire in the eastern DR Congo, the State Department added, “Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to push for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.”
UNSC’s Troop Withdrawal Call
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted on Friday to urge Rwanda’s military to end support for the M23 rebels in eastern Congo and withdraw all troops from Congolese territory immediately and unconditionally.
The M23 has captured the two largest cities in eastern Congo and stoked fears of a wider war.
UN Draft Resolution
The U.N. draft resolution urges the DRC and Rwanda to return to diplomatic talks to achieve a lasting peaceful resolution.
The escalation of a decade-old insurgency has killed several peacekeepers with the U.N. force in Congo, known as MONUSCO.
The draft U.N. resolution warns that “attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and that planning, directing, sponsoring or participating in attacks against MONUSCO peacekeepers constitutes a basis for sanctions.”
(With image from Reuters)
