The U.S. Urges Rwanda and Congo to Ease Tensions Amid Escalating Border Conflict

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken calls for de-escalation as fighting displaces millions and raises concerns for upcoming Congo elections.

In response to the escalating conflict along the Rwanda-Congo border, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on both nations to de-escalate tensions and withdraw troops, emphasizing the need for a diplomatic resolution. The conflict, marked by increased fighting, has resulted in the displacement of nearly 7 million people.

Secretary Blinken engaged in separate phone conversations with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to discuss the “volatile situation and worsening humanitarian crisis along the border,” according to a statement from the U.S. State Department.

Fighting in the eastern Congo provinces of Ituri, North and South Kivu, and Tanganyika has intensified, primarily involving clashes between M23 rebels and militias loyal to the Congolese army. The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, with U.N. experts presenting strong evidence of Rwanda’s army fighting alongside the rebel group. Rwanda, in turn, denies the allegations and accuses Congo’s army of shelling villages in Rwandan territory.

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The International Organization for Migration has declared the situation as the largest internal displacement and humanitarian crisis globally. Thousands of civilians have lost their lives, millions have been internally displaced, and hundreds of thousands have sought refuge in neighboring Uganda.

Fabien Sambussy, IOM’s chief of mission in Congo, expressed concern, stating, “For decades, the Congolese people have been living through a storm of crises. The most recent escalation of the conflict has uprooted more people in less time like rarely seen before.”

The conflict’s impact on the upcoming presidential elections in Congo adds further complexity, raising concerns about potential disruptions to the polls as President Tshisekedi seeks reelection.