DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi vows ‘vigorous’ response to M23 rebels in Goma happymamay

Congolese President Felix Chesikdi pledged to restore governmental authority in the east, as Rwanda -backed rebels took control of the city of Guma and said to advance south to take more lands.

In a televised speech to the nation, he said “a strong and coordinated response” against what the “terrorists” called was a neighbor.

The international community criticized for “failure” and not to do enough in the wake of the escalating security crisis.

The week -long attack by the rebels has strengthened warnings of a humanitarian crisis waving on the horizon and the growing international pressure to end the fighting.

During a speech on Wednesday night, TSHISECEDI mobilized all Congolese to join the army’s battle to regain control.

“Check one thing: the Democratic Republic of the Congo will not allow itself to be insulted or crush. “We will fight and win,” he said.

The fighting forced about 500,000 people from their homes, which has already increased a distinctive humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations.

Since the fighting began, the city has been cut off from electricity, water and food in a rare supply.

A regional virtual summit in East Africa on Wednesday evening held by the President of Kenya William Roto, Which tshisetedi snubbedHe called for a “peaceful settlement of conflicts”.

Paul Kajami from Rwanda attended it, along with the leaders of other member states Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania and Somalia.

The heads of state strongly urged the government of Dr. Congo to communicate directly with all stakeholders, including M23 and other armed groups that have grievances. “

TSHISECEDI refuses to speak directly to M23 – Egypt to speak only to Rwanda.

East African leaders also called for a joint summit of the bloc and leaders of the South African society (SADC) to “the mobilizers on the front.” Dr. Congo is a member of East Africa and SADC.

TSHISECEDI praised the SADC soldiers “fighting alongside us” and the United Nations forces who died in the wake of the rebel attack on Goma.

Thirteen of South Africa peace memorization was killed in the deadly conflict in Juma, which led to an increase in tensions between South Africa and Rwanda.

On Wednesday night, Kagami said that Rwanda was ready to confront South Africa if necessary, following a request from South African President Cyril Ramavusa that M23 fighters and Rwandan forces were responsible for deaths.

In a strongly designed statement that responds directly to Ramavusa on X, Kagame accused him of distorting their private conversations about the volatile situation.

“If South Africa wants to contribute to peaceful solutions, this is good and good, but South Africa is not in a position that allows it to the role of the peacemaker or the mediator. And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context on any day,” he said. .

The exchange represents a major escalation in tensions between the two countries, whose relationship was fragile for several years.

On Wednesday, Angola called on Congolese and Rwandan leaders to quickly meet in Luanda.

The country, which was mediated in a failed attempt to talk in December before M23 launched its last attack, called for the resumption of discussions led by society in East Africa related to turmoil in the eastern Congo.

This came when TSHISECEDI visited Luanda for discussions about the following steps in the Angola -led talks.

EAC and Luanda’s peace -led peace efforts have failed to solve the crisis.

Participated in additional reports from Nomsa Maseko in Johannesburg and Parbra Plate in Nairobi