Brussels, Belgium – The European Union (EU) has strongly condemned the recent invasion by the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), describing it as a serious violation of the agreed ceasefire.
In a statement issued on Sunday from the European Commission’s headquarters in Brussels, EU Foreign Affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni denounced the ongoing advance of M23 forces, emphasizing that it exacerbates the already dire humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC.
“The continued advance of M23 is an unacceptable violation of the agreed ceasefire, further deepening the disastrous humanitarian situation in the region,” El Anouni stated.
The issue was also addressed on Monday during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, where the foreign ministers of the EU’s 27 member states condemned the escalation and signaled their readiness to impose measures against those undermining peace and stability in the DRC.
El Anouni further noted that the EU’s Political and Security Committee is actively engaged in addressing the crisis.
The M23 rebel group has been engaged in armed conflict with government forces in North Kivu province. Reports indicate that the rebels, allegedly backed by Rwandan troops, recently seized control of Goma, a key city in eastern DRC with a population of over two million.
The DRC government has condemned the invasion, describing it as an act of war by Rwanda. Meanwhile, the rebels have indicated their intention to expand the territory under their control, raising concerns over further instability in the region.
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