Veteran German diplomat visits M23-controlled Goma

Peter Fahrenholtz, a former German ambassador to Rwanda, has visited AFC/M23-controlled Goma city in DR Congo, where he held talks with the deputy governor of North Kivu and other officials regarding the ongoing crisis. In a post on X on April 13, Fahrenholtz, who served as Germany’s ambassador to Rwanda from 2012 to 2016, said his discussions with Deputy Governor Willy Manzi shed light on the situation in the region. “[Manzi] illustrated the ongoing genocidal actions against the Tutsi population in eastern DR Congo. This has also been documented by the UN Special Advisor on Genocide Prevention,” Fahrenholtz said. ALSO READ: UN official warns of risk factors for genocide, crimes against humanity in DR Congo Fahrenholtz said that the deputy governor underlined the objectives of the M23: “to end these genocidal acts, protect the human rights of the civilian population, and establish peace and security.” He noted that Manzi described the rebel movement as “an inclusive and diverse Congolese movement which includes many members of Hutu and other ethnic origin.” ALSO READ: Veteran German diplomat puts EU on spot over European mercenarie in DR Congo The German diplomat, who also served in Bangladesh and Eritrea, has previously weighed in on the DR Congo crisis, questioning the European Union’s silence on the use of European mercenaries in the conflict. He also pointed to the failure of Congolese government to address underlying issues behind the AFC/M23 rebellion. He pointed to long-standing issues of divisionism and genocidal ideology that have led to the persecution and displacement of Tutsi communities in eastern DR Congo for decades. Fahrenholtz criticized comments made by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas in a March 10 post on X, in which she accused Rwanda of backing the rebels. “Are M23 not DR Congo citizens? Were there not European mercenaries fighting against them in DR Congo? Who will protect ethnic minorities in eastern DR Congo?” he posed.

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Veteran German diplomat visits M23-controlled Goma