By: Bayero Ade
The European Union (EU) has strongly denounced the recent invasion of a territory in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by M23 rebel forces, calling it a violation of the ceasefire agreement and a worsening factor in the region’s humanitarian crisis.
According to NAN, speaking from Brussels on Sunday, EU Foreign Affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni reaffirmed the bloc’s stance against the rebels’ actions.
“The ongoing advance of the M23 rebels is a serious breach of the agreed ceasefire and is further deteriorating the humanitarian situation in eastern DRC,” El Anouni stated.
He added that the issue was discussed during the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, where the foreign ministers of all 27 member states condemned the escalating violence and signaled their willingness to take measures against those fueling instability in the region.
The EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC), he noted, is actively monitoring the crisis and exploring all possible avenues to hold those responsible accountable.
Meanwhile, the M23 rebels, backed by Rwandan forces, have reportedly taken control of Goma, a key city in North Kivu, and have expressed intentions to expand their territorial hold.
The DRC government has labeled the invasion a direct act of war by Rwanda. Goma, home to over two million people, lies strategically on the DRC-Rwanda border, making it a focal point in the ongoing conflict.
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