State Department spokesperson Ned Price conveyed Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s deep concern about how fighting has affected Congolese civilians who have been killed, injured and displaced from their homes.
Price said Blinken recalled the horrible consequences of hate speech and public incitement in the past as he condemned its resurgence against Rwandaphone communities, according to a Dec. 5 news release.
"Had a productive conversation with Rwandan President @PaulKagame to underscore the need for peace and security in eastern DRC. The United States urges Rwanda to honor commitments made in Luanda, including ending Rwanda's support to M23," Blinken said in a post on Twitter.
Al Jazeera reported tens of thousands of protesters marching peacefully in a Dec. 4 article. Protests have become more serious due to the escalation in fighting in recent months between state forces and The March 23 movement, or M23, a Congolese Tutsi rebel group.
The U.S. designated the M23 rebel group Jan. 3, 2013, for obtaining arms and equipment related to military activities that have directly contributed to the ongoing conflict in the DRC Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, Rwanda continues to deny its support of M23 and claims the West’s interference is “exacerbating the problem,” Africanews reported.
The M23 conflict has displaced 233,000 people since March 2022, the U.S. Agency for International Development reported in a fact sheet. As a result, agencies are coordinating with local partners to distribute emergency water, sanitation and hygiene kits and provide three water tanks to improve access to safe drinking water.
At collection sites where the displaced live in "standard conditions," drinking water, essential household items, food and shelter assistance are reported as the most urgent items needed, according to USAID.
