UN chief Guterres says 'dialogue must begin' between warring parties in eastern DR Congo
M23 rebels have been pushing south towards Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern DRC, since they seized Goma, the largest city, at the end of last month.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged dialogue between warring parties in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Saturday, hours after Rwanda-backed M23 rebels entered the northern suburbs of the provincial capital Bukavu.
"There is no military solution. The deadlock must end – the dialogue must begin," Guterres told an African Union summit in Addis Ababa as fears grow that the fighting could spiral into a regional conflict.
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The rebels have been pushing south towards Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern DRC, since they seized Goma, the largest city, at the end of last month.
Leaders from Eastern and Southern African regional blocs last weekend urged all parties to hold direct talks, but Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has repeatedly refused to talk directly to the M23 and cancelled his appearance at the AU summit, sending his prime minister to represent Congo.
The AU Peace and Security Council convened a closed-door meeting late on Friday to discuss the crisis.
'Nothing to do with Congo's problems'
Kigali has denied backing M23, and President Paul Kagame posted a note on Facebook early Saturday saying he told the meeting that "Rwanda has nothing to do with Congo's problems."
The United States has warned of possible sanctions against Rwandan and Congolese officials. The European Parliament on Thursday urged the European Union to freeze direct budget support for Rwanda.
The European Union said on Saturday it is considering using all the means at its disposal to protect Congo.
"Alarmed by news of Rwandan-backed M23 forces seizing Kavumu airport and entering Bukavu, ignoring international appeals for ceasefire. The EU urgently considers all the means at its disposal," EU foreign policy spokesperson Anouar El Anouni posted on the X platform. "The ongoing violation of the DRC's territorial integrity will not go unanswered."
Corneille Nangaa, leader of a rebel alliance that includes the M23, said the rebels had entered Bukavu and would continue their operation in the city on Saturday.
Two residents of the northern suburb of Bagira said they had seen rebels on the streets and no sign of fighting.
An M23 source, two Congolese officers and multiple Bukavu residents, however, said on Saturday morning that the rebels had not yet entered the city centre.
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