Russia condemns M23 actions and calls for diplomatic resolution in Eastern DRC

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Lagos, Nigeria – At the latest UN Security Council meeting, the Russian Federation expressed grave concerns over the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly the seizure of Dona, a locality home to more than one million civilians.

AfricaHeadline Reports Team
editorial@africaheadline.com 

Moscow strongly condemned the actions of the M23 armed group and called for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of rebel forces from occupied areas.

The Russian delegation also urged external actors to cease support for the M23 and withdraw any military units from the region, emphasising the urgent need to resume peace negotiations in Luanda. “We cannot allow this conflict to escalate into an interstate confrontation with regional implications,” the Russian representative warned.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis was another focal point of Moscow’s intervention. The situation in North Kivu has deteriorated rapidly, with Goma now effectively cut off from the rest of the country. “We are witnessing a humanitarian disaster unfold in real time, with potentially catastrophic consequences for the city’s inhabitants and the displaced persons who have sought refuge there,” the Russian representative stated.

Russia extended its solidarity to the governments of the DRC and other nations that have lost military personnel in the conflict, offering condolences to the families of civilian victims and fallen UN peacekeepers.

Moscow strongly condemned attacks against UN peacekeeping forces and called on Kinshasa to ensure the safety of foreign diplomatic missions, in line with the Vienna Convention.

Russian diplomats stressed that a military solution to the crisis is not viable. “It is clear that the resolution can only be achieved through political agreements,” they asserted, reaffirming that the Luanda Process remains the most effective framework for dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda.

Moscow highlighted that the key impediment to an agreement between Kinshasa and Kigali is the continued interaction between the Congolese government and illegal armed groups, particularly the M23. “Without addressing the status of this group through intra-Congolese dialogue, any efforts to normalise relations between the two nations will be ineffective,” the delegation added.

The Kremlin also called for the resumption of the Nairobi Process and other regional peace initiatives, stressing that there is no alternative path to stability.

Additionally, Russia urged stronger measures against the illegal exploitation and smuggling of natural resources, a trade that overwhelmingly originates from the conflict-affected eastern DRC. “Extra-regional actors and major multinational corporations must reassess their involvement in the exploitation of these resources, as their interests are perpetuating the illicit supply of so-called ‘blood minerals,’” the Russian delegation concluded.