Rwanda President Paul Kagame on Wednesday held a phone conversation with the new US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, over the tense situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
During the call, Rubio stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in the Eastern part of DR Congo, insisting that the US was deeply concerned by the ongoing escalation.
He also called for respect for the sovereignty of each country.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Secretary Rubio stressed the United States is deeply troubled by the escalation of the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, particularly the fall of Goma to the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group.
The Secretary urged an immediate ceasefire in the region, and for all parties to respect sovereign territorial integrity.
“Secretary Rubio conveyed the overriding goal of the United States is a durable peace that addresses security concerns and lays the foundation for a thriving regional economy,” the State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
Kagame on his part said the call was productive and they both discussed the need for peace and stability in the DRC.
They also agreed to address the root causes of the conflict conclusively.
The President of Rwanda added that he looks forward to working with the Donald Trump administration for the prosperity of the region.
“Had a productive conversation with Secretary Marco Rubio on the need to ensure a ceasefire in Eastern DRC and address the root causes of the conflict once and for all, and on the importance of deepening our bilateral ties based upon respect for our respective national interests.
“I look forward to working with the Trump Administration to create the prosperity and security that the people of our region deserve,” Kagame said on X.
This comes after M23 rebels claimed to have taken control of Goma, including the region’s airport after days of intense fighting with the forces tasked with safeguarding the region.
This led to protests in the country's Capital, Kinshasa.
The protests saw several embassies including the US embassy, and the Kenyan and Ugandan embassies among others attacked burnt down on Tuesday.
Their discussion came a day after President William Ruto held a phone discussion with Secretary Rubio over the escalation.
During the conversation, they talked about the need to conclude the Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) agreement that seeks to increase investment and promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth by unlocking the existing economic opportunities.
They also discussed the United Nations-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti and agreed on a joint strategy to ensure the mission serves its purpose.
