Kinshasa: Kenyan President William Ruto announced that the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are set to participate in a crisis summit on Wednesday, following the entry of the M23 rebel group, reportedly backed by Rwanda, into the Congolese city of Goma.
The situation at the Rwanda-DR Congo border has intensified, with the border near Goma being closed on Monday. According to Rwandan army spokesperson Ronald Rwivanga, five civilians lost their lives, and 25 others were injured in the outskirts of the Rwandan town of Gisenyi, near the border.
President Ruto emphasized the need for dialogue to address the ongoing crisis in eastern Congo. "A military solution does not seem viable from my perspective," he stated, urging direct engagement with the M23 rebels and other involved parties.
Efforts to mediate peace between the two nations have faced significant hurdles. Angola-led negotiations broke down in December after Rwanda demanded that Congo initiate direct peace talks with the M23 group, a condition Kinshasa rejected.
