DAKAR - The chairperson of the African Union (AU) has called for "calm and dialogue" between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), expressing serious concern over the rising tension between the two neighbors.
"I call for calm and dialogue between the two countries, and for the peaceful resolution of the crisis with the support of regional mechanisms and the African Union," Senegalese President and current AU chief Macky Sall said on social media.
"I am seriously concerned by the rising tension between Rwanda and the DRC," Sall said on Twitter.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting March 23 Movement (M23) rebels in North Kivu, a province in eastern DRC, an accusation denied by Kigali. Over the past few days, fighting has raged between the DRC army and M23 rebels in North Kivu, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes.
On Saturday, the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) called for the release of two Rwandan soldiers being held by FDLR rebels in the DRC.
UN Humanitarians said Monday that 35 civilians have been killed in Ituri province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, noting that the deadly situation limits aid delivery.
"Insecurity has forced nine humanitarian organizations, one UN agency and eight international non-governmental organizations, to temporarily suspend their road movements in Irumu and Mambasa territories, delaying the provision of assistance to thousands of people," it said. "The humanitarian situation in Ituri has been deteriorating since October last year, when attacks on civilians increased, including on sites for displaced people."
