PRETORIA - International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, has urged Rwanda to stop its support for the M23 group and to withdraw its forces from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“The unauthorised presence of the Rwanda Defence Forces in eastern DRC violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC,” the Minister said at the 1257th Meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), on Tuesday.
Several soldiers serving with peacekeeping forces in the DRC were killed by the M23 rebel group in recent days following intense fighting, including 13 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
Deadly clashes have erupted in eastern DRC following Kinshasa’s withdrawal of its diplomats from Kigali, as rebels backed by Rwanda advance toward the key city of Goma, which is rich in minerals.
The soldiers of the SANDF are part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).
They have been deployed to support Africa’s second-largest country in its efforts to restore peace, security, and stability.
Meanwhile, Lamola has described the current security situation in the eastern DRC as “utterly appalling and unacceptable”.
“South Africa strongly condemns the recent activities of the M23 rebel group in North Kivu province, which has now affected Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, and surrounding areas.
“We would also like to condemn Rwanda for its support of the M23 as clearly proven by various United Nations reports of experts.”
He urged the Congolese and Rwandan governments to resuscitate talks in the context of the Luanda Peace Process, facilitated by Angolan President João Lourenço.
“In the meantime, we demand that M23 must immediately seize all its armed activities and withdraw from all territories that they occupy to prevent further loss of lives.
“We would like to reiterate that military action is not the only solution in Congo. Therefore, there must be a political dialogue that would address all concerns of the parties in conflict.
“It is evident that the current conflict in the eastern DRC will not stop without the concerns of both the DRC and Rwanda being addressed through mediation and negotiations,” Lamola said.
Source: SANEWS.GOV.ZA
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