NAIROBI (Kaab TV) – Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday held crucial diplomatic talks with French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the escalating crisis in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The discussions come as the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized control of Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC, causing what the United Nations has described as “mass panic.” The Congolese government has called the insurgency a “declaration of war,” according to AP.
President Ruto also convened an emergency meeting of the East African Community (EAC) to address regional security concerns, emphasizing the need for a collaborative peace process with both regional and international support.
“I have spoken to President Emmanuel Macron of France on the situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He has expressed support for the regional efforts to deal with the challenge,” Ruto shared on X (formerly Twitter).
President Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting regional interventions and acknowledged Kenya’s role in peace initiatives, not only in DRC but also in Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan.
The capture of Goma by the M23 rebels followed a 48-hour ultimatum for the Congolese army to surrender their weapons.
The group announced the takeover in a statement, urging residents of the city to remain calm.
There has been no immediate response from the DRC government.
At an emergency UN Security Council meeting, the UN’s special representative for Congo highlighted the dire situation, stating, “With the airport shut down and roads blocked in the region’s humanitarian and security hub, we are trapped.”
The M23 offensive in this mineral-rich region poses a significant threat to regional stability and risks exacerbating one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts.
The humanitarian crisis in the area continues to deteriorate, with millions already displaced and further misery looming.