By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
UN officials have warned that the ongoing offensive by M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, in eastern Congo is a serious threat to regional peace. “The risk of a regional war is increasing each day,” said France’s UN Ambassador, Nicolas De Riviere.
The rebels have seized key cities like Goma and Bukavu, and their advance continues. UN Special Envoy Bintou Keita called for urgent action to “prevent a wider regional war.” She stressed that it’s critical to take “decisive steps to avert a wider conflict.”
With Rwanda’s support, the M23 aims to control Congo’s mineral-rich eastern region, escalating tensions and violating Congo’s sovereignty. Congo’s Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, demanded the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops, calling their presence a violation of international law and sovereignty: “These forces have brought death and devastation.”
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