South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has accused M23 rebels and Rwanda of escalating the conflict in the DRC, following the deaths of 13 South African peacekeepers.
“This violence stems from an escalation by the rebel group M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force militia, which have engaged the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and launched attacks against peacekeepers from the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC),” Ramaphosa stated Wednesday.
“The territorial integrity of the DRC must be respected in accordance with the United Nations Charter on the respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of other states.”
The latest fatalities include soldiers from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania, who were serving under the SADC and UN missions.
Ramaphosa and Rwandan President Paul Kagame discussed the situation during a phone call on Tuesday, agreeing on the urgent need for a ceasefire, according to Ramaphosa’s office.
SADC Chairperson and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa condemned the “cowardly attacks” on regional forces, vowing the SADC will continue its military mission in the DRC. An emergency SADC meeting is expected shortly in Harare.
