Democratic Republic Of Congo
Congo has said it will not require the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from its North Kivu province due to the presence of Rwandan forces and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.
Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner said that the situation in the east of the country was not conducive for a troop pullout.
A U.N. report said this week 3,000-4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting the Congolese army and overseeing rebel operations.
On Friday, the Congolese army accused the rebels of violating a humanitarian ceasefire announced by the US.
President Felix Tshisekedi last September demanded the withdrawal of peacekeepers, accusing them of refusing to confront the rebels. Dozens of people were killed in demonstrations targeting MONUSCO bases in eastern Congo.
A first phase saw peacekeepers complete their departure from South Kivu province in June.
The M23 rebels rekindled their insurgency in 2022, taking vast areas of North Kivu from government hands and displacing close to a million people.
The rebels say they are protecting ethnic Tutsi communities from genocide.
01:30
Congo army reclaims key areas from M23 rebels
02:06
Kagame urges DRC to negotiate with M23 rebels
01:59
Civil society mobilizes citizens in Bukavu against M23 threat
01:06
DRC: Kinshasa's Archbishop delivers politically loaded Christmas message
01:52
Santa brings food and joy to displaced children in DR Congo
01:05
Apple claims it told suppliers earlier this year to stop buying its minerals from DRC