Antonio Guterres says a ‘regional escalation should be averted in any respect prices’ as Rwanda-backed M23 forces achieve floor in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
UN chief Antonio Guterres says the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) “territorial integrity” should be preserved after M23 fighters attacked the eastern provincial capital of Bukavu.
Addressing an African Union (AU) summit within the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Saturday, Guterres mentioned a “regional escalation should be averted in any respect prices”.
The 55-nation physique is assembly as Rwanda-backed M23 fighters declare to have taken management of Kavumu airport serving Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province, in jap DRC.
“The preventing that’s raging in South Kivu – because of the continuation of the M23 offensive – threatens to push your entire area over the precipice,” Guterres informed leaders on the summit, with out mentioning Rwanda.
Native media mentioned explosions went off in Bukavu on Saturday morning, with casualties reported.
With the spectre of a regional conflagration rising in jap DRC – and worldwide our bodies more and more sounding the alarm – the AU has been criticised for its timid strategy and observers have demanded extra decisive motion.
Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi, reporting from Kenya’s capital Nairobi, spoke to M23 commanders who mentioned they’re within the technique of “securing” Bukavu.
Military officers in Kavumu airport fled with out a battle after seeing a bloody raid carried out by the armed group in Goma, mentioned Soi. “Now M23 has the management of each South Kivu and North Kivu, which have huge mineral sources.”
M23 now has management of Lake Kivu, as properly, which is of strategic significance for the switch of provides between the 2 areas.
Assault ‘is not going to go unanswered’
Rwanda denies giving navy assist to M23 however has accused hardline Hutu teams in DR Congo of threatening its safety. A report by UN consultants mentioned final 12 months Kigali maintained about 4,000 troopers within the DRC and had de facto management of the insurgent group.
Outgoing AU chair Moussa Faki Mahamat mentioned on Friday “the ceasefire should be noticed,” including there’s a “normal mobilisation” amongst African nations to cease the clashes. Neither Rwandan President Paul Kagame nor his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi attended Friday’s AU assembly.
Tshisekedi, talking on the Munich Safety Convention on Friday, urged nations to “blacklist” Rwanda, condemning Kigali’s “expansionist ambitions”.
The European Union mentioned on Saturday it’s “urgently” contemplating all choices in response to the widening insurgent assault.
“Alarmed by information of Rwandan backed M23 forces seizing Kavumu airport and coming into Bukavu, ignoring worldwide appeals for ceasefire,” European Fee spokesperson Anouar el-Anouni wrote on X.
“The EU urgently considers all of the means at its disposal. The continuing violation of the DRC’s territorial integrity is not going to go unanswered.”
The assertion follows an enchantment from the European Parliament earlier this week urging the EU to droop a minerals take care of Rwanda in response to Kigali’s involvement within the offensive.
Legislators in Strasbourg on Thursday overwhelmingly accepted a non-binding decision that additionally known as for the bloc’s 27-member states to freeze all direct finances assist in addition to navy and safety help to Rwanda.
