United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged for the respect of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) territorial integrity and called for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities to prevent a regional war. His remarks at the African Union (AU) summit came a day after Rwandan-backed M23 rebels seized a second provincial capital in eastern DRC, further exacerbating tensions in the Great Lakes region.
The conflict, which has seen M23 fighters overrun key cities including Goma in North Kivu and Bukavu in South Kivu, has sparked fears of a broader regional confrontation. The armed group, which the DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting, has been steadily advancing, prompting international outcry and increased diplomatic pressure on Kigali to rein in the insurgency.
“The fighting that is raging in South Kivu as a result of the continuation of the M23 offensive – threatens to push the entire region over the precipice,” Guterres warned in his address to AU leaders. “Regional escalation must be avoided at all costs. There is no military solution. The dialogue must begin, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC must be respected.”
The AU summit, which convened in Addis Ababa amid rising tensions, has been criticized for its lack of decisive action in addressing the crisis. While Rwandan President Paul Kagame was present at the meeting, DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi opted to stay away, citing the urgent need to monitor the security situation at home.
A meeting of the AU’s Peace and Security Council on Friday stretched late into the night but failed to yield any significant breakthroughs. Meanwhile, the European Union issued a stark warning, stating that it was “urgently” considering all available options in response to the latest developments, asserting that “the ongoing violation of the DRC’s territorial integrity will not go unanswered.”
The escalating violence continues despite calls from East and southern African leaders on February 8 for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire. Fresh clashes erupted again on Tuesday, raising doubts about the effectiveness of regional peace efforts.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, President Tshisekedi strongly condemned what he described as Rwanda’s “expansionist ambitions” and urged the international community to impose sanctions on Kigali. Rwanda, for its part, has consistently denied supporting M23 but claims that extremist Hutu groups operating in eastern DRC pose a security threat to its borders.
As tensions escalate, neighboring Burundi has deployed thousands of troops to support the Congolese army, further complicating the situation. Reports from Bukavu on Saturday described sporadic gunfire and looting, forcing residents into hiding. Across the border in Rwanda, AFP journalists in the town of Rusizi reported hearing occasional gunshots.
Beyond the DRC conflict, the AU summit also addressed broader challenges facing the continent, including the ongoing civil war in Sudan and the impact of recent cuts in U.S. development aid. Leaders also emphasized the need to push for reparations from colonial powers, a subject gaining traction in international diplomatic discussions.
Observers have criticized the AU’s response to the crisis in eastern DRC, arguing that the organization lacks the political will to take firm action. “Kagame has clearly calculated that his best approach is to push forward, and he does have some support,” said Richard Moncrieff of the International Crisis Group. “Some African leaders have trouble defending Congo because they don’t defend themselves.”
Angolan President Joao Lourenço assumed the AU’s rotating presidency at the summit, a largely symbolic role that changes annually. The selection of a new AU Commission chairperson is set to take place on Sunday, with Kenya’s Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato vying for the position.
With fighting still ongoing and diplomatic efforts struggling to gain traction, the crisis in eastern DRC remains a looming threat to regional stability. Whether the AU can mobilize a concrete response or whether external intervention becomes necessary remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that the longer the conflict persists, the greater the risk of a full-scale regional war.
