President Felix Tshisekedi is calling for sanctions against Rwanda, denouncing the involvement of its troops in the security and humanitarian crisis in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Congolese president once again reiterated this call at the UN general assembly. In this eastern province of his country, rebel groups such as the M23 have been spreading terror for several years, supported in their actions against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by armed elements from Kigali.
This situation, deplored by Kinshasa, has caused “an unprecedented humanitarian crisis,” with nearly seven million internally displaced persons, according to President Felix Tshisekedi, who spoke on Wednesday at the United Nations podium during the 79th session of the general assembly.
The Congolese leader called on “the international community to impose targeted sanctions against Rwanda because of its destabilising role.”
“We demand the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Rwandan troops from our territory,” he said.
Despite the recent talks in Luanda, Angola, the Congolese leader stressed that diplomatic initiatives “must in no way obscure the urgency of this essential action.”
In addition, President Tshisekedi reaffirmed his government’s commitment to continue implementing the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Community Recovery and Stabilisation Program to disarm, demobilise and reintegrate combatants by offering them viable and sustainable economic opportunities.
He also stressed the priority given to the repatriation of foreign combatants, which is beneficial to a transition after the departure of the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) from the country.
ODL/Sf/te/fss/as/APA