Brussels, 30/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 30 January, a spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said that the announcement by the Congolese armed forces of the launch of military operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (DFLR), as well as the commitment by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) to provide support, are steps in the right direction towards attaining stability in the DRC.
This decision is consistent with the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 January 2015, stating that the time had come to start military operations in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2147 and that those DFLR combatants not prepared to surrender voluntarily should be disarmed by any means.
The EU calls on MONUSCO and the armed forces of the DRC to ensure full protection of civilians, respect of international humanitarian law and to take all appropriate measures during military operations.
On Thursday 29 January, the Congolese army announced that it had launched an offensive against the DFLR rebels in the east of the DRC. (LC)