Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

International calls mount for Congo rebels to cease fire

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Nov 2022 23:48
3 Min Read

Rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are faced with increasing international pressure to give up their weapons.

  • x
  • The unrest ignited diplomatic tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, which Kinshasa accuses of backing the rebels. Source: Ben Curtis/AP Photo.
    The unrest ignited diplomatic tensions between the DRC and Rwanda (AP)

In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where there have been several days of ferocious fighting, there have been increasing international calls for the rebels to hand over their weapons.

Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said Rwandan President Paul Kagame was prepared to pressure the resurgent M23 militant group to cease fire and withdraw from conquered territory. Kenyatta is mediating the conflict.

Kenyatta is the East African Community's "facilitator" in efforts to restore peace and security in the mineral-rich east of the impoverished country where many armed groups are active.

Read next: DR Congo authorities report 14 casualties in militia attack

The Congolese M23 seized vast kilometers of territory across North Kivu and moved toward the region's main city of Goma in combat that has displaced tens of thousands of people.

The fighting also reignited regional tensions, with the DRC accusing its much smaller neighbor Rwanda of backing the M23, something that UN experts and US officials have also pointed to in recent months.

"Kenyatta, in discussion with President Kagame, agreed on the need for an immediate ceasefire," Kenyatta's office said late Friday after a phone call between the two men.

Related News

Trump confirms Rwanda-DRC peace deal, gripes about Nobel Peace prize

DR Congo, Rwanda to sign peace accord on June 27

Read next: 27 civilians killed in DR Congo attack

"President Kagame also agreed to assist the EAC facilitator to urge the M23 to ceasefire and withdrawal from captured territories," it said in a statement in English.

However, Kigali denies supporting the M23 and accuses Kinshasa of colluding with the FDLR, a former Rwandan Hutu rebel group established in the DRC after the 1994 genocide of mainly Tutsis in Rwanda.

'No to Rwandan aggression' 

Kenyatta's statement about Kagame was a form of acknowledgment that Rwanda could indeed influence the M23, according to some Congolese. "At last, Paul Kagame admits that his country is attacking the DRC!" lawmaker Solange Masumbuko said on Twitter.

Protests against Rwanda and in support of the Congolese armed forces were staged on Saturday in several cities, including Kinshasa and Bukavu, in the east, with marchers chanting, "No to Rwandan aggression." 

The M23 must immediately withdraw and end hostilities, the United States, Belgian, British, and French envoys for the Great Lakes region demanded on Friday.

They said in a statement that the resumption of violence since October 20 "undermines peace efforts and has caused further insecurity and significant human suffering."

Eastern Congo is home to more than 120 armed groups, many of which are a result of local conflicts that erupted at the turn of the century.

  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Uhuru Kenyatta
  • Tutsi M23
  • Rwanda
  • Paul Kagame

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS