President William Ruto joined other global leaders in raising concerns over escalating hostilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a statement late on Sunday night January 26, 2025, the head of state lamented that the insecurity situation in the eastern part of DRC was sliding out of hand.
Ruto, the chairperson of the East African Community, noted that ongoing military actions, including the closure of airspace in Goma, had exacerbated the situation.
“The escalating deteriorating peace and security situation in the DRC is of grave concern. The humanitarian crisis is being exacerbated by ongoing military actions, including the closure of airspace in Goma,” Ruto’s statement read in part.
Ruto’s statement came after rebels of the M23 movement claimed they had taken control of the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s east.
This was after hours of intensive gunfire and explosives in that eastern part of the country.
Orders cessation
While condemning the latest wave of conflict in DRC, Ruto called for immediate cessation of hostilities. He pleaded with both parties to pursue a more peaceful way of resolving the conflict instead of resolving into violence which argued had led to massive displacement of people and loss of lives.
Humanitarian aid has also been cut due to the latest round of violence in DRC.
As part of addressing the conflict, Ruto confirmed having a conversation with Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and his DRC counterpart Félix Tshisekedi over the need to call for peace.
“I call for the immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities, emphasise the obligation of all parties to facilitate humanitarian access to affected populations and urge both sides to pursue peaceful means to resolve this tragic conflict.
“As chair of the EAC, I call on the parties to the Luanda process and my brothers, President Félix Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame, both of whom I have spoken to this evening, to heed the call for peace from the people of our region and the international community,” Ruto added.
Convenes urgent meeting
Ruto has convened a meeting bringing together heads of state from the East African Community to find a solution to the hostilities.
Extraordinary Summit will be chaired by Ruto within the next 48 hours to find a way of silencing the guns in DRC.
The escalating deteriorating peace and security situation in the DRC is of grave concern. The humanitarian crisis is being exacerbated by ongoing military actions, including the closure of airspace in Goma.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) January 26, 2025
I call for the immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities,… pic.twitter.com/yFS5badWAL
UN displacement data
According to the United Nations, the escalating violence in the eastern DRC has displaced 237,000 people this year alone.
“Escalating clashes between non-State armed groups and the Congolese army in North and South Kivu provinces are intensifying one of the world’s most alarming yet under-reported humanitarian crises,” said UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun in a briefing in Geneva.
The violence has led to widespread human rights violations and massive forced displacement, with North and South Kivu already hosting 4.6 million internally displaced people.
“Humanitarian access is severely limited, leaving displaced populations in desperate need of shelter, food, clean water, and medical care. Safe and unimpeded access for aid workers must be guaranteed,” emphasized the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
