DRC Severs Diplomatic Relations With Rwanda As M23 Rebels Kill 13 UN Peacekeepers
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has severed diplomatic relations with Rwanda, reported some African media on January 25, 2025.
The breaking of diplomatic ties between the two East African Community member states comes as ongoing fighting between DRC military and the notorious rebel group M23 in North Kivu Province is escalating; with 13 UN peacekeepers, 9 from South Africa, 3 from Malawi, and 1 from Uruguay, killed on January 24, 2025.
Furthermore, M23 rebels are said to be closing in on the North Kivu Province's capital Goma, a city with over 2 million inhabitants.
The Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Antonio Guterres has expressed serious concerns about the escalating armed conflict in North Kivu, and warned that the conflict can lead to an African regional war. Accordingly, the UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting about the situation in DRC on January 26, 2025 (local time).
At the same time, Rwanda is said to have deployed massive number of troops near its border with DRC, with many troops having already crossed the border into North Kivu Province to fight alongside the M23 rebels against DRC military. Even a few days ago, the military governor of North Kivu Province, a general, was allegedly gunned down by some Rwandan shooters.
The aim of the offensive by Rwandese troops and M23 rebels is said to be capturing Goma City one more time. The first time M23 captured the city was in 2012. However, the capture was very short lived. M23 troops withdrew after UN and USA threatened to stop economic aid to Rwanda. The economic aid reportedly include budget support amounting a staggering 33% of the country's budget. The prompt withdrawal from Goma City by M23 rebels after the economic threat from the UN and USA, confirmed allegations that Rwanda has definitely decisive role in the activities of M23 hence directly involved in the conflict in North Kivu despite the country persistent hypocritic denial.
Currently, Rwanda has about 4000 troops operating in DRC's North Kivu Province, according the UN.
Paradoxically, some countries in the so called West that are often very vocal in condemning and quick to take harsh actions against countries deemed to have violated territorial integrity and sovereignty, in the case of Rwanda's illegal activities in DRC, their responses have, so far, been mere words of condemnation with no actions. The countries seem to talk loudly, complain bitterly, and take severe actions against countries making such violations only when their material interests are threatened, or if one of them is the culprit. Otherwise, they don't really care!
Notwithstanding the foregoing, one wonders why the African Union (AU) and some regional blocs like the East African Community (EAC) are posing as if they are toothless as regards this appalling and unnecessary bloody conflict in DRC? Don't these organizations have some leverage over Rwanda to force it stop the unacceptable and polarising activities in DRC? Surely, Africa can not continue to rely on others in world to intervene and resolve its self-destructive crises.
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