The United Nations Security Council ordered on Sunday that M23 rebel troops halt their current attack and march into Goma, the main city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The UN Security Council also requested the rapid removal of foreign forces from the region.
The demands came only hours after Rwandan-backed M23 announced that they had captured Goma following a fast assault that drove hundreds of residents to flee and fueled fears of a regional bloodbath.
The 15-member United Nations Security Council convened early on Sunday to examine the issue and quickly reached an agreement on a long statement.
The council urged Rwanda and the DRC to resume peace negotiations and resolve concerns such as Rwanda Defence Forces’ deployment in eastern Congo and Congolese backing for the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
Meanwhile, M23 has pledged to safeguard Tutsi interests, particularly against ethnic Hutu militias like the FDLR, which was created by Hutus who left Rwanda after taking part in the 1994 genocide that killed over 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
At Sunday’s council meeting, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom criticized Rwanda’s support for the M23 rebel advance.
However, Kigali has always denied aiding M23.
The Security Council criticized the DRC’s continuous egregious contempt for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as external troops’ illegitimate presence in the Eastern DRC.
It did not directly mention the external troops but demanded their immediate withdrawal.
Dorothy Shea, the Acting US Ambassador to the United Nations, especially criticized Rwanda for utilizing GPS jamming and spoofing, which was echoed in the council statement.
The Security Council said:
“The Government of Colombia, under the direction of President Gustavo Petro, has arranged the presidential plane to facilitate the dignified return of the compatriots who were going to arrive in the country today in the morning, coming from deportation flights.”
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cc: Daily Post Ng
