DRC: Deteriorating security in Kivu, US calls for dialogue with M23

Through a message from State Department spokesman Ned Price, the United States sent a strong message to the M23 on Monday 31 October 2022. They call on this armed group, which is very active in Kivu, to withdraw from its positions, disarm and join the dialogue.

The United States strongly condemns the resumption of fighting by the armed group March 23 Movement (M23) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United States has reported. State Department spokesman Ned Price. It reports that the resumption of hostilities since 20 October has caused significant human suffering, including civilian deaths and injuries and a large number of newly displaced persons.

In the same message, the United States called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.

“We call on the US- and UN-sanctioned M23 armed group to withdraw from its positions, disarm and join the inter-Congolese dialogue (Nairobi process) in preparation for the disarmament, demobilisation and community reintegration offered by the DRC government,” said Ned Price.

Call to break all links with the M23

“We call on all actors in the region to cease all support or cooperation with the M23 or other non-state armed groups,” Price continued, before stressing that the US remains deeply alarmed by the increase in hate speech and calls for an end to “rhetoric violent”.

This was an opportunity for the US State Department spokesperson to reiterate that involvement in planning, directing, sponsoring or conducting attacks against UN peacekeepers is a basis for the designation of sanctions under UN Security Council resolutions.

Imperative compliance with the Nairobi and Luanda Treaties

In view of the precarious security situation, the United States has therefore called for an immediate resumption of the Nairobi process and the trilateral mediation process in Luanda to find a lasting solution. Two processes in which all States Parties of the East African Community (EAC) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) must abide by the principles agreed at the East African Heads of State Conclave and the Luanda mediation process.

Finally, the United States expressed its strong support for the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the DRC.