Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, as members of the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG), chaired by Germany, subject the next assertion on the alarming escalation in South Kivu:
The ICG expresses its profound concern concerning the renewed outbreak of violence within the jap Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the brand new offensive of the March 23 Movement (M23), supported by Rwanda, round Uvira (South Kivu) near Burundi which dangers destabilizing the entire area. The ICG expresses specific concern on the elevated use of each assault and suicide drones within the battle. This represents a big escalation within the combating and poses an acute danger to civilian populations.
The ICG urges the M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) to right away halt offensive operations in jap DRC, specifically in South Kivu, and calls on the RDF to withdraw from jap DRC consistent with UNSC decision 2773 and on the M23 to uphold its commitments beneath the Declaration of Principles that was signed in Doha on 19 July 2025.
The ICG calls on all events to honour their obligations to guard civilians, adhere to all facets of UNSC decision 2773, together with full respect of territorial integrity, to uphold their commitments beneath the Washington Accords of 4 December 2025 and instantly deescalate the scenario. We urge all events to keep away from escalatory or provocative speech and actions that gravely endanger civilian populations and danger irreparably undermining the numerous progress achieved with the Framework Agreement signed in Doha on 15 November 2025 by the Government of the DRC and M23. The ICG additional calls on all actors concerned to urgently and unequivocally recommit to the ceasefire and to make sure full, protected and unimpeded, humanitarian entry in order that important help can attain these in want.
