Africa-Press – Angola. President João Lourenço received a message on Friday (12) from his counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in which Félix Tshisekedi informs him about the deteriorating security situation in the east of the DRC and requests diplomatic support to contain the situation.
The letter was delivered by the Congolese minister of Regional Integration, Floribert Anzuluni Isiloketshi, who is in Luanda as Tshisekedi’s special envoy.
In statements to the press after the meeting, the minister stressed that the mission aims to convey to President João Lourenço the current situation regarding the evolution of the armed conflict in the east, which he considers to have reached very worrying levels of severity, precisely after the recent signing of the Washington peace agreement.
He revealed that the situation is marked by new incursions by the M23, supported by Rwanda, using heavy weaponry, drones, and sophisticated equipment, resulting in significant human losses and a worsening of the humanitarian crisis.
According to the Congolese minister, M23 forces launched new offensives several weeks ago, attacking strategic locations in South Kivu.
Among the affected areas, he pointed to Uvira, a border town with Burundi, whose capture by the rebels increases the risk of regionalization of the crisis, due to territorial proximity and implications for regional stability.
Current events are characterized by the use of highly sophisticated military equipment, which has increased the rebels’ offensive capacity.
He stated that the M23 advance has caused great losses in human lives, destruction of material goods, and a marked worsening of the humanitarian situation.
The special envoy explained that insurgent forces continue to conquer new towns, leaving a trail of destruction and massive displacement of civilians.
Therefore, he said that this escalation required urgent communication to President João Lourenço, who is overseeing the process of seeking stability in the region.
He maintained that the letter delivered to the Angolan President and current head of the African Union requests increased diplomatic pressure on Kigali, with a view to the immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to the negotiation process initiated within the framework of regional and international mechanisms.
Given the current context, the government reinforced the DRC’s appeal for solidarity from partners and diplomatic intervention from Angola, a country that is closely following the issue and playing an active role in regional mediation.
Asked whether these events compromise the Peace Agreement recently signed in Washington, USA, Floribert Anzuluni admitted that the negative developments on the ground call into question the ongoing diplomatic efforts, although he reaffirmed DRC’s commitment to the peaceful path and to dialogue promoted within the regional and international framework.
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