The United States has expressed deep concern over recent violations of the ceasefire agreement in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a statement released on Friday evening, the U.S State Department, called on Rwanda to immediately withdraw its Defense Force personnel and equipment, including sophisticated surface-to-air missile systems, from the conflict-prone region.
The U.S. also condemned reported disruptions to GPS systems in the area, allegedly attributed to Rwandan forces, describing these actions as harmful to both civilian and regional stability.
This U.S. appeal is the latest in a series of international efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the eastern DRC, where complex security dynamics and border disputes have fueled unrest for years.
Rwanda has faced accusations of supporting rebel groups in the region, particularly the M23 with concerns mounting over the deployment of advanced military equipment across the border. Rwanda has maintained that its activities are defensive measures to counter threats from the DRC-based Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), a militia group linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
In addition to the demands made on Rwanda, the United States urged the DRC government to cease its own alleged support for the FDLR, which continues to destabilize eastern Congo and stoke regional tensions. The FDLR is one of several armed groups operating in the region, where mineral wealth and longstanding ethnic divisions have created a complex web of alliances and hostilities.
The U.S. emphasized that adherence to the ceasefire is critical to protecting civilian lives and securing the region’s stability. “Violations of the ceasefire undermine international peace efforts, and we call upon both Rwanda and the DRC to commit to de-escalation and constructive dialogue,” the statement read.
