The African Union has stepped up efforts to help end the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). An African Union delegation recently held discussions with representatives of the AFC/M23 rebel group in Goma, eastern DR Congo.
The meeting was part of wider efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, which has caused serious humanitarian problems in the eastern part of the country. Many civilians have been forced to leave their homes because of fighting, while others continue to face insecurity and difficulties accessing basic necessities.
The African Union delegation called on the different sides involved in the conflict to respect the ceasefire and continue with peace negotiations. The organisation stressed that dialogue remains important in finding a lasting solution rather than allowing the fighting to continue.
The conflict has also created tensions between DR Congo and Rwanda, with the Congolese government accusing Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels. Rwanda has rejected the accusations. The situation has raised concerns about wider instability in the Great Lakes region of Africa.
The African Union says it will continue supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing peace and stability to eastern DR Congo. However, challenges remain as fighting has continued in some areas.
