LONDON
The occupation of eastern Goma City by M23 rebels, allegedly backed by the Rwandan Defense Force (RDF), is an “unacceptable breach” of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DR Congo) sovereignty, the British foreign secretary said Monday.
David Lammy said he spoke with partners from Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa last week and stressed the importance of humanitarian access and engagement with African-led peace processes.
“There can be no military solution,” he wrote on X.
Earlier on Sunday, the G7 condemned the M23 offensive in eastern Congo, urged the rebels and the Rwandan military to cease their offensive in all directions, and called for the “urgent protection of civilians.”
The group, allegedly backed by Rwanda, launched a major offensive last week and later claimed to have captured Goma. Rwanda denies that it supports the rebels.
The M23 rebels have been fighting Congolese forces for years, who are said to be looking for natural resources in the region.
The rebels claim to be defending the interests of minority Congolese Tutsis who are discriminated against because of their ethnic ties to Rwanda’s Tutsi community.
The offensive has exacerbated the region’s humanitarian crisis by causing food and water shortages as well as displacement, according to the UN and officials.
