France Stands with DRC in UN Emergency Meeting
The security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo continues to deteriorate, raising international concerns. Nicolas de Rivière, France’s ambassador to the UN, reaffirmed his country’s full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC. He announced that France backs Kinshasa’s request for an emergency public meeting of the Security Council. “We have expressed to the Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba, France’s serious concern about the rapidly deteriorating situation near Goma. We fully support the emergency meeting request made by the DRC,” stated Nicolas de Rivière. In Kinshasa, France’s ambassador to the DRC, Remi Maréchaux, also stated, “France stands by the DRC to defend the respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
International Calls for De-escalation
UN Chief António Guterres condemned the resumption of the M23 armed group’s offensive, now extending to North Kivu and South Kivu. He urged the M23 to immediately cease hostilities, withdraw from occupied territories, and respect the ceasefire agreement of July 31, 2024. “We are deeply alarmed by the increased risk of an M23 attack on Goma, an eventuality that would have catastrophic consequences for hundreds of thousands of civilians,” a UN spokesperson stated. International leaders, such as Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, president of Türkiye, have also called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Erdoğan praised the mediation efforts by Angola and expressed readiness to support any initiative promoting peace in the Great Lakes region. Meanwhile, the German Foreign Ministry urged Rwanda and the M23 to immediately withdraw. “Hundreds of thousands are already fleeing the escalating violence in the east of the country. All parties must immediately cease fighting and return to the negotiating table,” Berlin emphasized.
RDC’s Position and Accusations Against Kigali
Thérèse Kayikwamba, currently on a mission in New York, advocates for the Congolese government, emphasizing the conflict’s internationalization in the country’s east. Kinshasa denounces the Security Council’s inaction towards Rwandan military presence on its soil and Kigali’s support for the M23. French political figure Jean-Luc Mélenchon also accused Rwanda’s Paul Kagame of orchestrating an “invasion” of the DRC. “Rwanda is organizing the annexation of the neighboring province on Congolese territory. France must not accept this,” he asserted.
Alarming Humanitarian Context
The renewed fighting around Goma has worsened an already severe humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians are living in precarious conditions. The international community, concerned about the potential consequences of the offensive on regional stability, urges swift and concerted action to prevent an unprecedented humanitarian and security catastrophe.
