International organizations express concern about renewed fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The United Nations Mission, known as MONUSCO, urged the group to adhere to the Luanda roadmap. This agreement was signed in 2022 by Angola, the DRC, and Rwanda with the goal of promoting peace in the troubled eastern region of the country.
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) is currently undergoing a three-step withdrawal from the nation, in accordance with a resolution passed by the UN Security Council in December. This will result in the gradual transfer of responsibility to the government of the DRC later this year.
Indiscriminate bombing
In the past, there has been conflict between the Government and the M23 group, which has led to widespread bombing and has put a strain on the already scarce resources available to support 800,000 displaced individuals in the area. Additionally, there are 2.5 million others who have been forced to leave their homes in North Kivu province.
Last week, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported that the country continues to be impacted by severe flooding.
Approximately 100,000 homes, 1,325 schools, 267 medical facilities, and a significant amount of farmland have been impacted by destruction or damage. This has resulted in about two million individuals, with almost 60% being children, requiring aid.
Peacekeeping forces from the United Nations are currently conducting patrols in the city of Goma, located in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (file)
Continued security support
The spokesperson for the United Nations (UN) announced that MONUSCO, the UN’s mission in the country, has been providing assistance to the Congolese army by protecting important roads that connect the towns of Sake and Goma in the province of North Kivu.
Because the safety conditions in Sake and Goma are getting worse, the Mission is increasing its presence by deploying peacekeepers from its Force Intervention Brigade located in Beni, which is in the northern area of the province, as stated by the spokesperson.
During the weekend, MONUSCO held a meeting with the coordinator of the Congolese armed forces in North Kivu in order to plan a joint military operation to protect both Sake and Goma, according to his statement.
The Mission was worried about false information campaigns that are aimed at peacekeepers. These campaigns are making it difficult for the peacekeepers to carry out their duties.
According to the spokesperson, peacekeepers are still helping civilians escape from the conflict and guiding them to safer locations. One of these places is the Kitchanga base, where around 25,000 civilians have sought protection from the UN.
The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission visits the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On Tuesday, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of Peace Operations, visited MONUSCO alongside Catherine Pollard, the Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, and Christian Saunders, the Special Coordinator for Enhancing the UN’s Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
The leader in charge of peacekeeping assessed the Mission’s current efforts within the framework of the mutually approved disengagement plan with the Government.
Last Tuesday, Mr. Lacroix stated that it is crucial for the handover of security and civilian protection to occur simultaneously with MONUSCO’s withdrawal from vulnerable areas where they currently provide protection to hundreds of thousands of civilians.
He also urged the M23 group to stop their hostile actions.
In the beginning of this month, Bintou Keita, the UN Special Representative for DR Congo and leader of MONUSCO, denounced a string of assaults on UN employees in Kinshasa and urged the Congolese government to initiate an inquiry.
This information comes from the United Nations website.
