Russia has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a resumption of peace negotiations, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.
Zakharova noted that the situation in the east of the DRC has significantly deteriorated in recent weeks, with intensified militant activity from the M23 rebel group.
“We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the withdrawal of M23 units from the occupied territories, and the resumption of the negotiation process within the framework of existing regional peacekeeping formats. The escalation must not be allowed to spiral into an interstate conflict,” Zakharova stated.
The Russian diplomat also condemned the recent attacks on foreign embassies in Kinshasa, where demonstrators stormed diplomatic compounds on Tuesday, saying that such actions violate the principles of peaceful protest.
“We firmly believe that ending the violence in eastern DRC can only be achieved through dialogue among all interested parties involved in the conflict,” the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman concluded.
DRC has been plagued by decades of violence, particularly in the east, as dozens of armed groups, including M23, fight local authorities for resources. The regions are rich in minerals including gold and diamonds. During the latest escalation, M23 militants seized control of a large swathe of territory, prompting the UN to warn of the risk of a broader conflict.
The DRC government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of providing support to M23 rebels – a claim Kigali has consistently denied. The allegations have strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
According to Reuters, US President Donald Trump, when asked about the crisis during a press conference, acknowledged the gravity of the situation but refrained from detailing Washington’s stance. “You’re asking me a question about Rwanda, and it is a very serious problem, I agree, but I don’t think it’s appropriate right now to talk about it. But it is a very serious problem,” Trump stated.
In a regional response to the escalating violence, the East African Community (EAC) convened an emergency summit on Wednesday to discuss the security situation in Goma, a major city in eastern DRC. The meeting, called by Kenyan President William Ruto, aimed to explore diplomatic solutions to the conflict. However, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi was absent.
