Congo says it will seek to recover lost territory as Rwanda-backed rebels advance south

An East African bloc urged an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels extended their advance on Wednesday.

As an East African bloc urged an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwandan-backed M23 rebels who seized the city of Goma extended their advance on Wednesday, and Congo said it planned a campaign to recover lost territory.

While saying he favors diplomacy, Congo President Felix Tshisekedi told the nation on Wednesday night that he would mount a military riposte and warned: “The presence of thousands of Rwandan soldiers on our soil ... (is leading) to an escalation with unpredictable consequences.”

The eight countries of the East African Community held an emergency summit and called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Congo and for Congo to negotiate with M23. The United Nations Security Council similarly demanded a halt to the rebel offensive earlier this week.

Congo and Rwanda are both members of the East Africa bloc along with Kenya, Tanzania and other states. Tshisekedi did not attend the summit while Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame did.

M23 rebels captured Goma, a city of 2 million people and capital of North Kivu province, on Monday. Rwandan forces backed up M23 in Goma, according to Congo, the U.N., the U.S. and other Western powers. Rwanda has denied this.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/congo-recover-lost-territory-rwanda-backed-rebels-m23-rcna189960

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