UN condemns M23 rebel attacks in DRC, calls for Rwanda to stop supporting rebels and withdraw forces, as violence displaces thousands.

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has strongly condemned the recent wave of attacks by M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Over the past few days, numerous civilians, peacekeepers, and a provincial governor have lost their lives as fighting in eastern DRC intensifies.

Guterres has also called for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from the DRC and urged them to stop allegedly supporting the M23 rebels, who are advancing on the critical Congolese city of Goma. A statement issued by Guterres' spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, on Sunday expressed the UN chief’s firm disapproval of the M23 group’s ongoing offensive and their progress toward Goma in North Kivu with backing from the Rwanda Defence Forces.

The UN chief has called for the immediate cessation of all hostile actions by the M23 and their withdrawal from occupied territories. He further urged the Rwanda Defence Forces to halt their support for the rebels and leave DRC territory.

Rwanda has denied supporting the M23 rebels, with Rwandan President Paul Kagame accusing the UN peacekeeping mission, which has been present in DRC for decades, of failing to address the ongoing conflict. While Guterres had previously cited a UN experts' report suggesting Rwanda’s involvement in supporting the M23 fighters, he had not explicitly called for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces until now.

In the Sunday statement, Guterres reminded all parties involved in the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law. He emphasized that attacks against UN personnel could be classified as war crimes, following the recent deaths of three peacekeepers in eastern DRC within the last 48 hours.

The M23, also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army, has increased its control around Goma, exacerbating violence that has forced approximately 230,000 people to flee their homes. Eastern DRC, rich in mining resources, remains a volatile region, plagued by a complex array of rival armed militias, with violence continuing sporadically since the 1990s.