KEY POINTS
- The UN demands Rwanda withdraw its troops from Congo immediately.
- Congo and Rwanda accuse each other of supporting armed groups.
- The UN warns attacks on peacekeepers could lead to war crime charges.
The United Nations Security Council has called on Rwanda to withdraw its troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) without preconditions.
The 15-member council unanimously passed a resolution on Friday, urging Rwanda and the DRC to return to diplomatic discussions to end the ongoing conflict.
The M23 rebel group, which has captured two major cities in eastern Congo, is believed to be backed by Rwanda’s military, according to UN and Congolese officials.
However, Rwanda has denied the accusations, claiming it is defending itself against Hutu militias, who it says are operating alongside the Congolese military.
The UN resolution strongly condemned the offensive by M23 rebels in North-Kivu and South-Kivu and demanded that the group immediately cease hostilities and withdraw.
Rwanda, Congo blame each other for fueling the conflict
The current crisis in eastern Congo has escalated the tensions between the Rwandan and Congolese governments. The DRC accuses Rwanda of using M23 as a proxy force to exploit Congo’s mineral resources, including gold and coltan, which are essential for smartphone and computer production.
Meanwhile, Rwanda claims the DRC is collaborating with the FDLR, a Hutu rebel group formed by those who fled Rwanda after the 1994 genocide.
UN experts reported in December that some Congolese soldiers have worked alongside the FDLR, despite the government’s pledge to arrest any troops found cooperating with the group.
According to Reuters, the United States has already imposed sanctions on a Rwandan minister and a senior M23 leader for their alleged roles in the violence.
UN peacekeepers targeted as conflict escalates
The escalation of M23’s insurgency has led to deadly attacks on UN peacekeepers in Congo, known as MONUSCO.
International sanctions target individuals who attack peacekeepers, as these attacks meet the legal requirements of war crimes, according to the UN Security Council.
The M23 movement undertakes its operations by claiming protection of Tutsi interests primarily against Hutu militias like the FDLR.
However, the recent military advances made by these groups threaten regional peace, which concerns global political leadership.
The United Nations actively promotes new diplomatic negotiations between Rwanda and the DRC to minimize continuous regional unrest.
