M23 leader says rebels plan to "march to Kinshasa"
The Rwandan-backed M23 rebel movement will "continue the march of liberation until Kinshasa". This was stated by Corneilla Nangaa, leader of the rebel group's political arm, at a press conference in the eastern Congolese city of Goma on Thursday.
Nangaa used to be chairman of the Congolese electoral commission. He now leads the Congo River Alliance, a coalition of political and military groups seeking to overthrow the government in Kinshasa. The M23 is the main member of the alliance.
The statement comes after Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi said earlier on Thursday that the Congolese army will "violently retaliate" against the "terrorists". Tshisekedi also criticised the international community's "passivity" in the face of the conflict.
Diplomatic efforts
Europe, China and the US have all called on Rwanda, which supports the M23, to respect Congo's territorial integrity. Belgium shares this view, outgoing prime minister Alexander De Croo said on Thursday. He called the violence "unacceptable" and wants Rwanda to withdraw from the region.
"Belgium's international position has always been to respect international law and sovereignty. This is the same everywhere," De Croo told a plenary session of the Chamber of Representatives. He added that Belgium "will do everything to stop it and to save human lives".
Also on Thursday, Foreign minister Bernard Quintin reiterated the need for the EU to come up with concrete measures. "We have to find a compromise at the European level because that is where we can have an impact."
"We have to find a compromise at the European level because that is where we can have an impact"
Diplomatic efforts are under way. Both Angola and Kenya are trying - so far unsuccessfully - to mediate in the conflict. French Foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited Kinshasa on Thursday and will travel on to the Rwandan capital, Kigali.
PHOTO © AFP
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