Belgium condemns rebel seizure of Goma, in eastern DR Congo

Belgium condemns rebel seizure of Goma, in eastern DR Congo
Outgoing Foreign minister Bernard Quintin. Credit: Belga/Jasper Jacobs

The situation in Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is "completely unacceptable," said Belgium's outgoing Foreign Minister Bernard Quintin on Monday upon his arrival at a European ministerial meeting in Brussels.

Earlier in the day, the M23 rebel group claimed to have seized control of the major city in eastern DRC and called on Congolese army members (FARDC) to surrender their weapons to the United Nations peacekeeping mission (Monusco). These claims could not be independently verified by either the Congolese government or military headquarters.

"This constitutes a violation of international law and international humanitarian law,” added the Belgian diplomatic chief upon arriving at the European Foreign Ministers meeting.

"The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo must be respected by all parties at all times and places," he emphasised. Quintin's French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, also expressed support for the DRC’s territorial integrity.

"We are now witnessing a second phase of the M23 offensive, strongly supported by unwelcome Rwandan troops on Congolese soil. This is creating a catastrophic military situation and even worse humanitarian conditions," highlighted Quintin.

The entry into the capital of North Kivu province, a city on the Rwandan border with a population of one million and a similar number of displaced people, marks several weeks of advances by Rwandan soldiers and M23 fighters against an overstretched Congolese army.

These conflicts prompted Nairobi to call a meeting between DRC President Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Kagame within two days. The DRC accuses Rwanda of attempting to seize control of the mineral-rich eastern DRC, which Rwanda denies.

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