The foreign minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that “Rwanda cannot be allowed to continue to act with impunity.” She called on the UN to act beyond its condemnation, and to take concrete steps towards intervention instead.
“Words have not been enough to end the human suffering and the aggression and onslaught on Goma. It is now time for the Security Council to act.”
Wagner called for the withdrawal of irregular fighters from sovereign Congolese territory.
“There is no path to sustainable, peaceful resolution without this crucial step,” she said.
Wagner added that it is vital the Council introduces sanctions that target the command structure of the Rwandan Defence Forces “to undermine its ability to wage war against the DRC and its people.”
The foreign minister also called for an embargo on Rwanda’s “illicit exploitation and exportation of mineral resources in the DRC” to interrupt financing of the aggression.
On Tuesday, the US also urged the Council to take concrete measures to halt the offensive by the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, which are made up primarily of ethnic Tutsis.
Rwandan president Paul Kagame said he agreed with the US government in calling for a ceasefire in the decades-long conflict and to “address the root causes of the conflict once and for all.”
The M23 rebels seemed to have consolidated their control over the city of Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city, which they claimed to have captured on Monday.
After a major escalation of one of Africa’s long-running conflicts, which left several dead bodies in the streets and displaced hundreds of thousands, the city seemed to be relatively quiet on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, thousands fled, arriving at the Rwandan border.
“Millions have been displaced. Thousands are trapped in the besieged city of Goma with restricted access to food, water, electricity, security. Countless lives have been lost. Enough is enough,” Wagner said.
The M23 rebels told the Associated Press that they planned to set up an administration in the city, which will allow displaced people to return home and continue living normal lives.
The rebels are one of about 100 armed groups vying for a foothold in the conflict-battered North Kivu province, which includes Goma and is rich in minerals critical to much of the world’s technology.
