The French government has expressed deep concern over the intensified fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between M23 rebels the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and its serious humanitarian consequences.
During a press conference held on Thursday, February 8, Christophe Lemoine, the deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, said that the current situation makes it more necessary than ever to relaunch the processes of regional diplomatic missions.
“France is concerned by the intensification of fighting around Goma in the east of the DRC and its serious humanitarian consequences for the civilian populations. France condemns with the greatest firmness the continuation of the M23 offensives as well as any attack against the strength of MONUSCO. The current situation makes it more necessary than ever to relaunch regional diplomatic processes, particularly for the entry into force of a new ceasefire. We of course support the efforts of all the actors committed to the dialogue and appeasement,” Lemoine said in a message uploaded on the ministry’s X account and shared with the press by the French embassy in the DRC.
New wave of fighting has been reported since Thursday morning in the hills overlooking the city of Sake, more or less 27km from Goma, in the territory of Masisi.
According to sources in Sake, despite the detonations of heavy and light weapons heard in the city, the FARDC-Wazalendo coalition managed to push back the M23 rebels to within more or less 15km of Sake.
