EU Official Calls on Congolese Rebels to Allow Humanitarian Aid Access
Lahbib met with leaders of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23), which includes M23 rebels, in Goma as part of a regional tour that also included stops in Rwanda and Burundi. The visit aimed to evaluate the humanitarian situation firsthand and advocate for unrestricted access to vulnerable populations.
“I came to Goma with a humanitarian mandate. I had a frank and constructive meeting with representatives of AFC/M23 to press for humanitarian access for millions of civilians in eastern DRC. Aid must reach those in need without delay, through secure humanitarian corridors,” Lahbib said. “International Humanitarian Law must be respected to protect civilians. This is a shared responsibility across the region. I conveyed this message in Kinshasa, Bujumbura and Kigali. I received commitments from all parties I met and I hope that these commitments will be implemented so that this mission bears fruit.”
Reports indicate that Burundian troops are operating in Congo alongside government forces against M23 rebels. Since December 2025, thousands of Congolese displaced by the conflict have crossed into Burundi.
The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to face one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, driven by ongoing armed conflicts and mass population displacement, according to UN assessments. During Lahbib’s visit, the EU announced plans to mobilize €81.2 million ($88.5 million) in humanitarian aid across the Great Lakes region.
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