The United States has vehemently denounced the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), attributing it to the actions of the M23 armed group backed by Rwanda and sanctioned by the U.S. and the UN. The recent aggression into the town of Sake has heightened the peril for millions already enduring human rights violations, displacement, and assaults. The U.S. urges M23 to cease hostilities, withdraw from Sake and Goma, and adhere to the Luanda and Nairobi processes. Furthermore, it condemns Rwanda’s support for M23 and demands the immediate withdrawal of all Rwanda Defense Force personnel from the DRC, along with the removal of surface-to-air missile systems posing threats to civilians, UN and regional peacekeepers, humanitarian workers, and commercial flights in eastern DRC.
Emphasizing the importance of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, the U.S. calls for holding all actors accountable for human rights abuses in the DRC conflict, urging the DRC government to discontinue cooperation with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group considered a “negative force” by regional bodies and the DRC government. The U.S. reaffirms its support for regional diplomatic initiatives focused on de-escalation and the establishment of conditions for lasting peace in the DRC, urging all parties to engage constructively in achieving a negotiated resolution.
Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson
