The Democratic Republic of Congo denounces a “declaration of war” by Rwanda

Kinshasa on Sunday accused Rwanda of having “declared war” on it by sending new troops to support the M23 armed group which is now besieging Goma, the main city in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, while theHIM called on Kigali to withdraw its forces from the region.

According to consistent security sources, the fighting is taking place at the gates of Goma. The capital of the North Kivu province is home to a million inhabitants and almost as many displaced people.

The town was already virtually surrounded by the M23 and by 3,000 or 4,000 Rwandan soldiers present in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to theHIM. The contingent has rapidly gained ground in recent weeks after the failure of mediation between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, under the aegis of Angola.

The Security Council of theHIM met urgently on Sunday to discuss this situation.

As I stand before you, an attack of incredible gravity is taking place before the eyes of the worlddeclared the Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner.

New Rwandan troops have crossed the border and entered the Democratic Republic of Congo in broad daylightshe declared, denouncing an open and deliberate violation of our national sovereignty. It is a frontal aggression, a declaration of war which is no longer hidden behind diplomatic artificesshe insisted.

She then called on the Security Council targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, not only against identified members of the chain of command of the Rwandan armed forces but also against the policy makers responsible for this aggression. She also asks for a total embargo on exports of all minerals labeled as Rwandan, particularly coltan and gold.

A few hours earlier, the secretary general of theHIM, Antonio Guterres, who had not so clearly questioned Kigali until then, said he deeply concerned by the escalation of violence and called the Rwandan Defense Forces to stop supporting the M23 and withdraw from the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congoaccording to a press release from its spokesperson.

United States condemn the offensive of Rwanda and the M23 and will use all the tools available against those who fuel this conflict, their representative declared on SundayHIM.

A Rwandan drone opened fire on Congolese positions on Sunday about six kilometers from Goma, reports said.AFP security and UN sources.

According to several sources within the mission of theHIM in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), at least two paramilitaries were seriously injured by these shots.

Other bombings hit the Rusayo displaced persons camp, on the outskirts of Goma, according to several humanitarian sources who did not give an assessment.

In central Goma, loud detonations were heard starting at dawn as Congolese army combat helicopters circled in the sky, according to journalists from theAFP.

Cars and motorbikes are circulating, but most businesses are closed. Looting by pro-Kinshasa militiamen was reported in outlying neighborhoods, according to civil society.

As the fighting draws nearer, new columns of displaced people arrive.

On Saturday evening, the spokesperson for the Congolese army accused Rwanda of being determined to seize the city of Goma. This town was briefly occupied at the end of 2012 by the M23, which was quickly defeated militarily the following year.

Thirteen South African, Malawian and Uruguayan soldiers, deployed within two regional forces (SAMIDRC) and UN (MONUSCO) supporting the Congolese army, were killed in fighting with the M23 in recent days, the authorities of these three countries announced on Saturday.

Rwanda said on Sunday that it had evacuated Friday its last diplomat in Kinshasa. For its part, Kinshasa announced on Saturday that it was recalling its diplomats from Kigali with immediate effect.

The European Union called on the M23 to stop its advance and Rwanda to withdraw immediately in a declaration signed by the 27 member countries.

The African Union has called for strict observation of the ceasefire agreed between the parties.

In the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, rich in natural resources, conflicts have continued for more than thirty years. Half a dozen ceasefires and truces have already been declared and then broken in the region. The last ceasefire was signed at the end of July.

This conflict, which has lasted for more than three years, further aggravates a chronic humanitarian crisis in the region. According to theHIM400,000 people have been displaced by fighting since the beginning of January.

The United Nations has begun evacuating some of its staff from Goma. The United States, France, the United Kingdom and Germany have called on their nationals to leave the city before the airport and borders close.