**France reaffirms its concern about the situation in eastern DR Congo**
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed serious concern over violent clashes between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In a recent press release, the Quai d’Orsay denounced Rwanda’s involvement in this armed conflict by supporting the M23.
France clearly demanded that Rwanda cease all support for the M23, withdraw from Congolese territory, and called on the M23 to immediately stop fighting and withdraw from occupied areas, in accordance with the Luanda mediation process.
It is obvious that France insists on respecting the commitments of the Congolese armed forces to put an end to any collaboration with the FDLR, former militias involved in the genocide of the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994. In addition, it calls on all armed groups to put an end to violence to protect civilian populations.
On the ground, new clashes took place between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group, supported by Rwandan forces, near the village of Ndumba. Meanwhile, France supports regional mediation efforts in the Great Lakes to achieve a negotiated solution, in order to restore stability in the region and protect civilians.
It is crucial that all parties involved commit to finding a peaceful solution to this conflict, which is having devastating consequences for the region. France encourages constructive dialogue to end the violence and promote peace and security in eastern DR Congo.