Belgium Urges Rwanda to Withdraw Troops and Cease Support for M23 in DRC
Belgium Urges Rwanda to Withdraw Troops and Cease Support for M23 in DRC
Belgium’s Foreign Minister condemned the ongoing violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Thursday and called upon Rwanda to withdraw its troops from Congolese territory while halting its support for the M23 rebel group.
In recent developments reported by Reuters on Wednesday, the M23 rebels have seized control of the town of Nyanzale. Despite accusations from UN experts that the Tutsi-led rebel group is being supported by Rwanda, the country has consistently denied these claims.
Expressing concern over the situation, Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib stated, “I denounce and condemn the ongoing violence in the east of the DRC and its impact on civilians, such as around Nyanzale.”
“We call on the M23 to cease hostilities and on Rwanda to end all support for the M23. Rwandan forces must withdraw from the DRC,” she emphasized on X.
Reports from UN radio Okapi on Tuesday revealed that fifteen to eighteen civilians were killed in violent clashes in the Nyanzale area on Monday, prompting thousands to flee amidst the M23 offensive.
Joining the condemnation, the European Union on Monday criticized “Rwanda’s support for M23” and urged Kigali to “immediately withdraw all its military personnel from the DRC”. Furthermore, the EU called on the DRC to cease all support for the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda, a predominantly Hutu group formed by former leaders involved in the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
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