The British government’s summons comes amid reports of the Rwandan Defense Force and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advancing into eastern Congo.
The British foreign office has condemned these actions, stating they constitute “an unacceptable violation of DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
A spokesperson for the British Foreign Office disclosed this in a statement, according to a report by Reuters.
“These advances constitute an unacceptable violation of DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Government of Rwanda must immediately withdraw all Rwanda Defence Force troops from Congolese territory,” the statement read.
The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with at least 900 people killed in recent fighting, according to a UN statement.
Furthermore, Congo’s communications minister, Patrick Muyaya, confirmed that over 2,000 bodies are awaiting burial in Goma.
The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains volatile, with the crisis having far-reaching consequences for regional stability and humanitarian efforts.
Troops ignore ceasefire calls
M23 rebels and Rwandan forces advanced into Bukavu, a key city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite growing calls for a ceasefire.
The rebels, led by Commander Bernard Byamungu, claimed control of Bukavu by midday on Sunday, following a three-day takeover of Goma, the regional capital.
The Congolese government has confirmed the presence of rebels in Bukavu and accused Rwandan troops of entering the city.
However, it has not declared the city fully under M23’s control. The government has condemned Rwanda’s actions, stating that it is “stubbornly pursuing its plan to occupy, pillage, and commit crimes and serious human rights violations on our soil“.
The situation in eastern DRC remains volatile, with the M23 rebels pushing to seize key cities and weaken Kinshasa’s authority in the region.
The international community has called for a ceasefire, but the rebels have continued their advance.
Furthermore, the United Nations has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, which Rwanda has denied.
