The United States of America broke its silence on the attacks on the US Embassy, the Kenyan Embassy, and other embassies by M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is currently ravaged by war.
Through a statement by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Senator Jim Risch, the US condemned the attacks, warning of dire consequences for attacks on diplomatic offices.
“The violent attacks on the US Embassy at Kinshasa and other embassies today are unacceptable,” Risch stated.
“The DRC government must ensure that foreign diplomatic missions are protected. Continued harm to Americans and our property will have serious consequences,” he asserted.
The message from the global superpower comes amid a ravaging war between M23 rebels and the DRC army, which is taking place in Goma, the largest city in the eastern part of the DRC.
According to the UN, the escalating conflict between the rebel groups and the government has led to the displacement of more than 400,000 people, further fuelling a fresh spate of protests.
This happened as rebels marched into the city, which has a population of about two million, resulting in pockets of chaos and gunfire.
The devastating conflict has since spilled over to the Rwandan border, affecting civilian activities, including schooling and businesses, in Rubavu, which borders the DRC.
For its part, the Kenyan government, through Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, called for swift action to resolve the unrest in the DRC after the attack on the Kenyan Embassy and its employees.
“We are deeply concerned by the ongoing siege and attacks on embassy premises and personnel in Kinshasa, DRC, including the Kenyan, Ugandan, and South African embassies, by marauding protesters who are voicing their discontent over the conflict in the eastern part of that country,” PS Sing’oei said in a statement.
President William Ruto has taken a leading role in attempting to curb the crisis by brokering a meeting between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his DRC counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi.
The three Heads of State were set to meet on the sidelines of the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania that was attended by other East African Community leaders.
Ruto is expected to play a crucial role in the talks after he called for direct dialogue between the Congolese government and M23 rebels, a move that has been frequently resisted by Congolese authorities.
