The truce gives more civilians space to flee from violent conflict with M23 rebels.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken applauded the two-week humanitarian truce established in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last week, a break in the fierce violence between government troops and M23 rebels to allow civilians to recuperate and evacuate.
“The United States commends all parties to the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for committing to a two-week humanitarian truce that will begin on July 5,” Blinken wrote in his statement. “We reaffirm our support for regional diplomatic efforts to find the way to permanent solutions and a lasting peace for the long-suffering communities of the eastern DRC.”
The conflict in the DRC has complex roots in other well-known clashes in Central Africa but is currently manifesting as a rebel uprising. The extremist militia M23 has taken over a few smaller cities in the DRC, and is now working to occupy territory in the city of Kivu, located near the neighboring country of Rwanda. Nearly 1.7 million civilians have been displaced in the last two years, and more are expected to evacuate.
Both Congo and the UN have publicly accused Rwanda of providing weapons and other military support to M23, which Rwanda has denied.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Blinken as he mindfully uses the diplomatic voice of the United States.
- That this break in conflict allows civilians to move toward stability in the midst of conflict.
- That the Lord uses the Biden administration to facilitate and end to the instability in the DRC.
Sources: Reuters, Department of State
