US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met on May 23 with the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi. This meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the disastrous humanitarian situation and the ongoing violence in eastern DRC. Antony J. Blinken said he was deeply concerned about the victims of this violence.
He called on Rwanda to end its support for the M23, an armed militia operating in the region, and asked the various state actors to cease all collaboration with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and other armed groups.
Secretary Blinken and President Tshisekedi discussed the urgency of disarming the M23 movement in accordance with the Luanda and Nairobi agreements. They also stressed the importance of implementing the commitments made in these agreements in order to restore lasting peace in the DRC.
The US Secretary of State also called for an end to acts of hate and divisive rhetoric. Finally, he expressed his support for free and fair elections in the DRC.
This meeting is a sign of international mobilization in the face of the crisis situation that the DRC is going through, particularly in the east of the country. The violence perpetrated by the various armed groups has had dramatic consequences for civilian populations, leading to massive displacements and aggravating the already precarious humanitarian situation in the region.
It is now up to the various actors involved to take concrete measures to end this crisis. The international community will continue to closely monitor the situation in the DRC and provide support to the population.