United States Secretary, Antony Blinken has met with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi to discuss the dire security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC at the sideline of the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC.
According to the statement attributed to the State Department Spokesman, Ned Price on Tuesday, the Secretary expressed his condolences for the lives lost in Kishishe and concern for hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals.
Blinken and President Tshisekedi agreed on the importance of immediate implementation of the November 23 communiqué following the Luanda Mini-Summit on Peace and Security, namely a cessation of hostilities.
“The M23 armed group’s withdrawal, an end to state support to armed groups, condemnation of hate speech, and the resumption of consultations between the DRC government and domestic armed groups through the Nairobi Process”.
The Secretary encouraged the Government of the DRC to speak out against hate speech and urged that it intensify efforts to condemn this unacceptable rhetoric.
He reinforced that any authorized cross-border military operations, bilateral and multilateral, should be deconflicted with MONUSCO and conducted in line with existing UN sanctions resolutions.
Blinken commended President Tshisekedi’s willingness to engage in continued dialogue and his commitment to bringing peace and stability to the Congolese people.