Rebels murder 13 foreign troops in DR Congo

Rebels murder 13 foreign troops in DR Congo

In a tragic turn of events, thirteen soldiers affiliated with peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo lost their lives during confrontations with M23 rebel forces.

In a recent statement, the South African military reported that nine of its soldiers lost their lives while assisting in the defense against a rebel advance on the city of Goma, located in eastern DR Congo. Additionally, the casualties included three soldiers from Malawi and one from Uruguay.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he has engaged in discussions with the leaders of both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, responding to international appeals to end the ongoing violence.

The United Nations is evacuating all non-essential personnel from Goma, a city with a population exceeding one million, amid escalating violence in the region.

The UN Security Council has rescheduled its meeting regarding the deadly clashes, moving it from Monday to Sunday in response to the intensifying conflict.

The M23 group has urged Congolese forces in Goma to capitulate to prevent further violence. DR Congo has officially cut diplomatic relations with neighboring Rwanda, alleging that the latter is responsible for the ongoing rebellion.

The decision follows the killing of a Congolese military governor by M23 fighters during his visit to the frontline on Thursday. In early January, the key eastern Congolese towns of Minova and Masisi were captured.

According to his office, on Saturday, Macron urged an end to the ongoing conflict during separate conversations with the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

According to reports from the AFP news agency, Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, has called on the M23 to cease its advance and condemned Rwanda’s backing of the group.

Angolan President Joao Lourenco, serving as the African Union’s mediator in the ongoing tensions between Rwanda and DR Congo, has strongly denounced what he termed “irresponsible actions by the M23 and its supporters.” As the AFP news agency reported, he emphasized the urgent need for an “immediate cessation” of hostilities to safeguard civilian lives.

Since the beginning of the year, clashes between the M23 rebel group and the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo have escalated significantly, resulting in the rebels gaining control of an unprecedented amount of territory.

According to the United Nations, the ongoing conflict has resulted in over 400,000 individuals being displaced from their homes this year.

Last week, local leaders reported that over 200 civilians had lost their lives in regions taken by the M23, while hospitals in Goma are currently treating hundreds of patients.

Martin Gordon, an Anglican bishop in Goma, told the BBC that the country’s ongoing conflict has persisted for an excessive duration, leading people to resort to any means necessary to achieve peace.

Multiple nations, including the UK, France, Germany, and the US, have recently advised their citizens to evacuate Goma.

Human Rights Watch has issued a warning regarding the increasing dangers faced by civilians amid the ongoing conflict between the Congolese army and M23 rebels. A humanitarian organization has leveled accusations against both parties for perpetrating serious violations against civilians.

The United Nations has issued a warning regarding the escalating conflict, highlighting its detrimental impact on the humanitarian situation in the region.

Since 2021, the M23 has asserted dominance over extensive mineral-rich eastern DR Congo areas. As a result, hundreds of thousands of individuals have found themselves displaced.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Nations have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 group. Rwandan authorities have not confirmed or denied this.

Rwanda has previously alleged that the authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are collaborating with individuals implicated in the 1994 genocide against ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The M23 emerged in 2012 as a splinter faction from an existing rebel group, claiming to defend the Tutsi community in eastern DR Congo, which has faced longstanding issues of persecution and discrimination.

Critics of Rwanda allege that the country is exploiting the M23 group to facilitate the looting of valuable minerals, including gold, cobalt, and tantalum, from eastern DR Congo.

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