US State Secretary Rubio, Ruto call for ceasefire in DRC

A collage of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) and Kenyan President William Ruto. [The Standard]

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kenyan President William Ruto have called for an immediate ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The two leaders held a phone conversation Friday evening, condemning the capture of Goma by M23 rebels, according to U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with President William Ruto to discuss the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, including the unacceptable capture of Goma and Bukavu by the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group. They emphasised that there is no military solution to the conflict and called for an immediate ceasefire," Bruce said.

The US and Kenya also pledged to support diplomatic efforts to end the crisis.

Rubio and Ruto have held at least three similar phone conversations on the DRC crisis since January, amid escalating tensions.

Their latest call comes as the UN Security Council, for the first time, urged Rwanda to end its support for the M23 rebels and help stop the violence.

M23 fighters advanced on several fronts in eastern DRC on Friday, further destabilizing the volatile region.