By Nur Asena Erturk
The EU on Friday summoned the ambassador of Rwanda amid the "ongoing offensive of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and M23" in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to an official statement on Friday.
“The EU strongly condemns this offensive, which constitutes a violation of the ceasefire decided under the auspices of the Luanda process and a continued use of force against the DRC's (Democratic Republic of Congo) territorial integrity. The Government of Rwanda must immediately withdraw all RDF troops from the DRC territory and stop supporting the M23 and any other armed group,” the statement read.
The bloc also urged Rwanda and all parties to end hostilities and opt for dialogue, expressing full support for “African-led efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict.”
Congo has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels and sending troops into the eastern country to assist the rebels in their recent offensive. However, Kigali has repeatedly denied these allegations.
Previously, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced economic sanctions against Rwanda's Minister of State for Regional Integration James Kabarebe, a former army commander, saying that he was central to his country's support for the M23 rebels.
Sanctions also targeted Lawrence Kanyuka, the M23 rebel spokesman, along with two companies he controls - Kingston Fresh, a UK-registered food services company, and Kingston Holding, a French-based mining consultancy.
More than seven million people have been internally displaced in Congo due to the conflict that has been ongoing for more than 20 years, according to the Congolese president.
The M23 group has intensified its territorial control in eastern Congo since December, seizing the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu.
Since Jan. 26, the conflict has resulted in over 3,000 deaths, nearly 3,000 injuries, and more than 500,000 new displacements, adding to the already 6.4 million displaced people, according to the UN.
At least 20 peacekeepers, including 14 South Africans, have been killed in clashes between the M23 rebels and Congolese forces.