The United States has issued a strong call for Rwanda to
withdraw its forces from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and
immediately cease all support for the M23 rebel group, deepening Washington’s
stance on the ongoing crisis in the region.
During a digital press briefing according to Africa news, U.S. Senior Advisor for
Africa, Massad Boulos, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs,
Corina Sanders, underscored that Rwanda’s military involvement in eastern DRC
is “unacceptable” and a key driver of instability.
“The presence of Rwandan Défense Forces on Congolese
territory is not helping the situation. It must end,” said Sanders. “The M23
would not be the military force it is today without external support,
particularly from Rwanda.”
This public rebuke aligns with the findings of multiple UN
reports that have documented Rwanda’s military backing of the M23—an armed
group accused of widespread human rights abuses and responsible for displacing
hundreds of thousands of civilians in eastern DRC.
The U.S. officials emphasized that while both the Congolese
army (FARDC) and M23 are implicated in abuses, the scale and systematic nature
of atrocities committed by the M23 warrant urgent international condemnation
and action.
Boulos urged all parties to return to the Luanda and Nairobi
peace processes and affirmed that any pathway to stability in the Great Lakes
region requires respect for Congo’s territorial integrity.
The statement marks one of the most direct U.S. criticisms
of Rwanda in recent years and places increased diplomatic pressure on President
Paul Kagame’s government. It also signals growing frustration among
international partners over the protracted conflict in eastern DRC, which has
left millions displaced and continues to escalate despite multiple ceasefire
efforts.
