A Chinese envoy on Sunday strongly condemned the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for attacking local people and the UN peacekeepers, demanding that it immediately stop the offensive.
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the escalating violence in the eastern DRC, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, also extended condolences to the UN peacekeepers who lost their lives and sympathy to the injured.
At the meeting, Fu briefed the United Nations Security Council on the recent tensions in the eastern region of the African country, saying that the M23 has launched frequent offensives in North Kivu and occupies Masisi, Minova, Sake and other important towns in the country, causing a large number of civilian casualties and displacement.
The Chinese envoy said the M23 rebels also launched shelling attacks on the camps of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO, killing three UN peacekeepers and injuring many others.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC also suffered heavy casualties.
"China strongly urges the M23 Movement to immediately stop its attacks. All parties should give top priority to the protection of civilians, support MONUSCO in performing its duties in accordance with its mandate, and firmly back regional mediation efforts," said Fu.
Tensions have been running high in DRC due to the recent advances by the M23 rebels in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. The rebels took control of Sake, a town considered the last defense for the government forces before Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province and a major regional hub.
"China calls on the M23 Movement to earnestly abide by the ceasefire agreement, stop resorting to force, withdraw from the occupied areas and return to the track of political settlement. Any external force should refrain from providing military support to the armed groups such as the M23 Movement to prevent further deterioration of the situation," said the Chinese envoy.
Fu noted that the international community should provide the needed humanitarian assistance in a timely manner, and the M23 movement must ensure the opening and smooth passage of humanitarian supplies.
He also warned that the M23 Movement must not pose a threat to the safety of peacekeepers, and attacks on peacekeepers may amount to a war crime.
"China hopes that the DRC and Rwanda will adhere to the channel of diplomatic dialogue, strengthen communication and find a lasting peace plan," he said.
The DRC has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 Movement rebels and announced the recall of its embassy staff in Rwanda on Jan 25.
Fu said the Chinese side hopes that Bintou Keita, special representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC, and Xia Huang, UN special envoy of the UN secretary-general for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, will enhance coordination and provide greater support for the Luanda and Nairobi Processes.
"China reaffirms its firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC and the government efforts to safeguard national security. China supports the Security Council in sending out a united message as soon as possible so as to create favorable conditions for the de-escalation of the crisis in the eastern DRC and the maintenance of regional stability," said the Chinese envoy.
More than 400,000 people have been displaced since the start of 2025 in the eastern DRC, where conflicts between the Congolese army and armed groups have intensified.
China strongly condemns M23 rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo for attacking civilians, peacekeepers
China strongly condemns M23 rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo for attacking civilians, peacekeepers
