United States Condemns Escalating Violence in DRC, Blames Rwanda

The United States has strongly denounced the escalating violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), attributing it to an armed group allegedly supported by Rwanda. Recent clashes between the M23 rebel faction and government troops in eastern DRC have resulted in numerous casualties among both military personnel and civilians. As a consequence of the conflict, tens of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee towards the city of Goma, situated near Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border. The US State Department has expressed concern over the worsening situation, warning of the heightened risks faced by millions of individuals already susceptible to human rights violations, including displacement and attacks. In a statement, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller called for Rwanda to withdraw its military personnel supporting the M23 group from the DRC and remove surface-to-air missile systems that jeopardize the safety of various groups in the region. Amidst the unrest, the DRC has accused Rwanda of conducting a drone strike at Goma airport, damaging a civilian aircraft—an act condemned as a violation of the DRC's territorial integrity. Rwanda has repeatedly denied allegations of backing the rebels, with South Africa announcing plans to deploy troops in support of the DRC's efforts against the armed group. The DRC has long been plagued by conflict with various rebel factions in its mineral-rich eastern region, with M23 asserting its cause as defending ethnic Congolese Tutsis facing discrimination within the country.