Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Union said it was “urgently” considering all options in reaction to a growing rebel offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Alarmed by news of Rwandan backed M23 forces seizing Kavumu airport and entering Bukavu, ignoring international appeals for a ceasefire,”
European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni noted on X.
“The EU urgently considers all the means at its disposal. The ongoing violation of the DRC’s territorial integrity will not go unanswered.”
How do M23 rebel advances so quickly?
Rwandan-supported M23 group’s rebels have entered Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, after a quick advancement south in recent days.
M23 fighters occupied the city’s Kazingu and Bagira zones and were moving towards the centre of the city of nearly 1 million people. Bukavu earlier fell to soldiers who escaped the Congolese army in 2004, and the capture of the city would, in effect, give the M23 total command of the Lake Kivu area.
Experts warn that its capture would convey an unprecedented growth of territory under the M23’s control since the latest insurgency began in 2022 and deal an additional blow to Kinshasa’s authority in the east.
#DRC: Alarmed by news of Rwandan backed M23 forces seizing Kavumu airport and entering Bukavu, ignoring international appeals for ceasefire.
— Anouar El Anouni 🇪🇺 (@AnouarEUspox) February 15, 2025
The EU urgently considers all the means at its disposal.
The ongoing violation of the DRC’s territorial integrity will not go unanswered.
How is the European Parliament calling for action on DRC?
Two days ago, the European Parliament also passed a resolution on increasing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), focusing on the M23 rebel militia and Rwanda’s suspected involvement.
MEPs asked for freezing direct budget support to Rwanda and for suspending military and security assistance to Rwandan armed forces. They also insisted on an arms embargo on the supply of weapons to Rwandan forces and M23.
