President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has pledged a strong military response to M23 rebels, accusing Rwanda of backing them and condemning global inaction. He called for national resilience and a humanitarian plan for the displaced.
The president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi, has announced a forceful response from the Congolese army to the recent armed assaults by M23 rebels, accusing Rwanda of backing the insurgents and condemning both the international and African communities for their failure to address the growing tensions along the border.
In a televised address late Wednesday, Tshisekedi described the security situation in eastern Congo as deteriorating at an unprecedented rate, claiming that Rwanda's support for the M23 rebels had escalated into acts of terrorism that have caused widespread devastation among local populations.
On Monday, the M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, claimed control of the city of Goma. However, local residents have stated that control of the strategic city remains divided between the rebels and the Congolese army. At least 25 people were killed in Goma, nine in Rwanda, with hundreds more injured in the ongoing conflict. Additionally, the recent clashes resulted in the deaths of 17 peacekeepers, including 13 South Africans, three Malawians, and one whose nationality remains unidentified.
Tshisekedi assured the nation that a comprehensive and coordinated military response against the rebels and their sponsors is underway. He further emphasised that the Congolese army is fully mobilised and committed to defending the country's sovereignty at all costs. He condemned Rwanda for its actions, accusing it of brazenly violating the principles of the United Nations Charter and regional agreements.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has consistently denied any involvement in supporting the rebels. However, Tshisekedi argued that Rwanda's actions, which are taking place with apparent impunity, disregard international laws and the values upheld by international institutions.
The Congolese president sharply criticised Rwanda's provocations, asserting that they undermine both Congolese sovereignty and regional stability. He labelled the actions as "barbaric" and a direct affront to the dignity and history of the Congolese people.
Tshisekedi also voiced his dissatisfaction with the silence and lack of action from both the United Nations and the African Union in response to the violence perpetrated by Rwanda and its allies in Congo, suggesting that this inaction borders on complicity. Despite this, he reiterated his openness to dialogue, although he remains prepared to take all necessary measures to defend Congo's territorial integrity.
In light of the ongoing conflict, Tshisekedi called on his citizens to remain resilient, urging them to mobilise and resist the crisis. He has also directed the government to establish an emergency humanitarian plan to assist those displaced by the violence.
Iran suggested it would be "unreasonable" to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace d...
Memorial events were held in Tehran’s main squares on Wednesday (8 April) to mark the 40th day since the ...
A barrage of Russian drones targeted and damaged a critical power substation in Ukraine's southern Odesa re...
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday he believes that some ...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top storie...
More than 200 people died on Tuesday in a landslide triggered by heavy rains at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the country's mines ministry said on Wednesday.
The military spokesperson for the M23 rebel movement, Willy Ngoma, was killed in an army drone strike in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo early on Tuesday (24 February), according to a regional diplomat, a senior rebel figure and a Western adviser to the government.
Escalating clashes in South Kivu’s highlands are sending a rising flow of wounded to Fizi’s small general hospital, where staff warn they are running out of space and supplies as the conflict expands across remote areas.
More than 200 people were killed this week when a landslide caused part of the Rubaya coltan mine to collapse in North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said on Sunday (1 February). The disaster struck a rebel-controlled mining area during the rainy season.
China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate two-week ceasefire covering all areas, but Israel says the deal excludes Lebanon. Tel Aviv says the U.S. is committed to achieving shared goals in upcoming negotiations.
Recent U.S. complaints about NATO allies and threats to quit the alliance are pushing European countries to seek alternative security arrangements, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Tuesday.
A train driver has died and several passengers have been injured after a high-speed train collided with an army lorry carrying military equipment at a level crossing in northern France on Tuesday morning (7 April), the local prefecture and railway operators said in separate statements.
A barrage of Russian drones targeted and damaged a critical power substation in Ukraine's southern Odesa region on Wednesday, Ukrainian officials confirmed.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 9 April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 from 1 January 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms.
Trade discussions between China and the U.S. are expected to remain virtual for now, with no major investment initiatives planned before a potential meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, according to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The Russian T-90M tank is worth an estimated $4.5 million and was designed to dominate the battlefield. Yet this steel giant has repeatedly been destroyed by something far smaller, faster and thousands of times cheaper: the drone.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment