Members of the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG) have voiced concern over the deteriorating security situation in eastern DR Congo, calling for an end to violence and incitement targeting Rwandophone minorities, including Congolese Tutsi communities. ALSO READ: South Kivu: AFC/M23 warns of “imminent genocide” against Banyamulenge civilians In a statement issued on Thursday, March 5, the group, comprising Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, warned that continued violations of ceasefire commitments risk deepening instability in the region. ALSO READ: Kinshasa accused of violating ceasefire as coalition forces attack on multiple fronts Violence has continued to escalate in North and South Kivu provinces, where civilians remain caught in the crossfire of confrontations involving Congolese government coalition and the AFC/M23 movement. The situation has been further aggravated by the reported Kinshasa's use of drones and heavy weaponry, raising concerns over the safety of civilians such as Banyamulenge in South Kivu. ALSO READ: Congolese lawyer questions mediators’ silence amid attacks against Banyamulenge The ICG said it was “profoundly concerned regarding the continued and recent violations in eastern DR Congo of the ceasefires upheld” under recent peace arrangements, particularly the Doha peace process and Washington Accords. “Such violations include the use of drones in military attacks which also pose an acute risk to civilian populations,” the group said, urging parties involved to “urgently and unequivocally recommit to ceasing hostilities and return to negotiations.” ALSO READ: ICG calls for fresh action against FDLR The Western group stressed that the conflict cannot be resolved militarily. “There can be no military solution to the conflict,” the statement said, calling on parties to implement their commitments under the existing peace frameworks. ALSO READ: AFC/M23 says still committed to ceasefire despite Kinshasa attacks The ICG also raised alarm over rising hate speech and discrimination against Rwandophone communities in eastern Congo, warning that such rhetoric risks fueling further violence. “The ICG further calls on parties to stop incitement to hatred, discrimination or violence, including against Rwandophone minorities, and other actions that gravely endanger civilian populations and social cohesion,” the statement noted. ICG further emphasized the importance of inclusive political dialogue among Congolese actors as a key component of any durable solution. ALSO READ: AFC/M23 vows to defend civilians against ‘Kinshasa’s terror’ Reacting to the statement, Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, described the statement as balanced and reflective of key issues that have been repeatedly raised by Kigali over the years. “This is a balanced statement by the International Contact Group,” Nduhungirehe wrote in a post on X on Friday. https://x.com/onduhungirehe/status/2029783497603477837 He noted that the statement highlights several crucial points, including concern over continued ceasefire violations and the use of attack drones that threaten civilian populations and the need for inter-Congolese dialogue to end the crisis. “These are common sense measures that we have been calling for over the past months,” he said.
