The Russian Federation has strongly condemned the activities of the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of M23 fighters from captured territories. Speaking at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on the DRC crisis, Russia’s Permanent Representative, Vassily Nebenzia, reiterated Moscow’s support for the Congolese government and people.
Nebenzia emphasized Russia’s commitment to DRC’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity as enshrined in the UN Charter. He firmly opposed any external interference that undermines the nation’s stability.
“Russia expresses its solidarity with the Government and the people of the DRC in this difficult period. We insist on the need for unconditional respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and unity of this country,” Nebenzia stated.
Russia also called on Rwanda to comply with international directives, including demands from the UNSC and the African Union (AU), to withdraw its military units from the DRC. The Russian envoy maintained that a peaceful resolution to the crisis could only be achieved through diplomatic engagement between the DRC and Rwanda.
Political Dialogue as the Only Solution
Nebenzia underscored that there is no military solution to the crisis and urged both nations to return to the negotiating table under the framework of the Luanda process. He stressed that addressing the root causes of the conflict was paramount to achieving long-term stability.
“The escalation in the east of the DRC must be stopped. However, there is no military path to resolving the crisis. It is only possible through a political agreement between the DRC and Rwanda,” he noted.
Moscow expressed concerns over the involvement of European private military companies in the DRC, criticizing Western nations for failing to address the issue. Russia accused European and American actors of selectively ignoring such engagements while simultaneously condemning African states’ security cooperation with other countries.
“We are also convinced that the silence of our European and American colleagues with regard to such ambiguous facts is at odds with their declared commitment to condemning African bilateral security cooperation with other States,” Russia stated.
Russia reaffirmed its support for African-led stabilization efforts, acknowledging decisions taken by the AU, Southern African Development Community (SADC), East African Community (EAC), and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). Moscow stressed that resolving the crisis should prioritize alleviating the suffering of civilians in eastern DRC.
