UN Security Council to Vote on Rwanda's Military Involvement in Congo

The United Nations Security Council will vote on a resolution urging Rwanda to stop supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo and withdraw troops. The resolution condemns M23's advances with Rwanda's support and calls for a peaceful resolution. Accusations fly between Rwanda and Congo and U.N. sanctions loom.

The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on a critical resolution this Friday, urging Rwanda to end its military support for the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The call includes a demand for Rwanda to withdraw its troops from Congolese soil without preconditions.

The M23 rebels have taken control of major cities in eastern Congo, raising the specter of a larger conflict. While Congo and the U.N. accuse Rwanda of backing M23 with armed support, Rwanda denies these claims, insisting instead that it is defending against Hutu militias. A U.N. resolution, drafted by France, categorically condemns the M23 offensive, attributing its strength to Rwandan defense forces and demanding an immediate halt to hostilities.

This resolution needs at least nine affirmative votes without any vetoes from the permanent members—United States, Russia, China, Britain, or France—to pass. Observers suggest it is likely to proceed. Meanwhile, the resolution also highlights Congolese military support for certain armed groups and calls for cessation. The ongoing conflict has resulted in deadly attacks on U.N. peacekeepers, with implications of war crimes and possible sanctions noted in the draft resolution.