Africa-Press – Cape verde. The African Union (AU) is calling for the establishment of an immediate ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo after reports of deteriorating insecurity following a rebel advance in the east of the country.
M23 rebel group gained grounds in the country’s east with residents reporting two more towns including Kiwanja have been taken over by rebels over the weekend.
In a statement, Senegalese President Macky Sall who doubles as the chair of African Union, and the chair of AU commission Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed “extreme concern at the deteriorating security situation in Eastern provinces in the DRC.”
They called “on all the parties to establish an immediate ceasefire, respect international law, the safety and security of civilians and the stability at the borders of all countries in the region.”
They urged “all stakeholders to engage in a constructive dialogue within the existing mechanism of the African Union’s Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region, and the East African Community’s Inter-Congolese peace dialogue.”
The rebel advance has also sparked tensions between DR Congo and Rwanda after Kinshasa expelled Kigali’s envoy, claiming that Rwanda is supporting the rebel forces.
The joint AU statement expressed its “full support to the Luanda Roadmap aimed at normalising the political relations between the DRC and Rwanda stressing that the initiatives by the AU, EAC and ICGLR are complementary and mutually reinforcing.”
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