During a meeting at the United Nations in New York, Bintou Keita, the Special Representative for the UN, called on ambassadors to take necessary actions to stop the conflict in North Kivu province from crossing over the border.

She emphasized the potential for the conflict to escalate beyond its current boundaries and the importance of ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions and reach lasting political resolutions. These remarks were made in Kinshasa, the capital city.

‘Deeply worrisome’ 

The current state of affairs in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most intricate, long-lasting, and drawn-out crises globally, having lasted for approximately 30 years. The recent outbreak of violence is happening as the MONUSCO is preparing to withdraw this year and while approximately two million people are being impacted by severe flooding.

Tensions have significantly increased following the end of a period of peace in December, resulting in a concerning state of affairs near the town of Sake and the capital city of Goma.

The level of conflict has increased in various regions in the past few weeks, and the M23 group has extended their reach into southern areas, resulting in more people being forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in Goma and the nearby South Kivu province.

Desperate scenes in Goma.

Ms. Keita reported that the situation is dire in the highly congested displacement areas in and around Goma.

Over 400,000 people who have been forced to leave their homes are currently seeking shelter in the city. In just the last two weeks, an additional 65,000 people have joined them, leading to a significant rise in cholera cases. This is due to the lack of access to clean drinking water, proper hygiene, and sanitation.

Currently, the FARDC (Congolese army) maintains control over Sake, with assistance from MONUSCO.

Nonetheless, she stated that the limited entry to regions governed by M23 is separating Goma from internal areas and hindering agricultural output and distribution. This has resulted in a surge in the cost of essential goods, heightening the potential for civil disturbances.

Violations and abuses 

The Council was informed that the relocation of soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the battlefront against M23 has worsened the lack of security in other areas of North Kivu and brought in additional fighters, particularly from South Kivu.

Organizations like the ADF are increasingly engaging in human rights violations and misconduct, such as carrying out executions without trial, kidnapping, seizing property, demanding money through threats, and committing sexual violence during conflicts.

Ms. Keita is troubled by the severe violations occurring in regions controlled by M23. These violations specifically target human rights activists, journalists, and other members of civil society. In the span of November to January, a minimum of 150 individuals have lost their lives, with 77 fatalities occurring in the month of January alone.

Misinformation campaigns 

At present, MONUSCO is still dealing with false information and misleading claims about its involvement in the current conflicts, primarily through digital efforts conducted by users primarily based outside of the DRC.

Ms. Keita stated that these actions have led to aggression towards UN peacekeepers and limitations on their mobility by both local militias and military forces.

On February 10, there were violent demonstrations in Kinshasa against the United Nations and diplomats. This was due to a belief that the international community has not taken sufficient action to address the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

11 incidents involving UN entities and MONUSCO resulted in the extraction or rescue of 32 staff members by peacekeepers. In addition, two UN vehicles were set on fire and eight were significantly damaged by being hit with stones.

Appeal to ambassadors 

Ms. Keita praised Angola’s current diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and reiterated MONUSCO’s dedication to aiding regional peace initiatives.

“I urge the Security Council to utilize its influence in backing regional efforts towards promoting peace and ensuring that all involved parties abide by international law and their obligations, working together to resolve the current crisis,” she stated.

The alarm is increasing in the eastern region.

The UN representative also expressed worry about the safety conditions in additional regions of North Kivu, Ituri, and South Kivu provinces.

She reported a major increase in violence in the Djugu region of Ituri, where MONUSCO is working to protect over 100,000 individuals who were forced to flee last week because of intense clashes between the Zaïre and CODECO groups.

The ADF is responsible for ongoing violence against civilians in Ituri and North Kivu, including abductions and killings. Recently, the group has changed their tactics and begun targeting military sites, breaking from their previous strategy of avoiding direct confrontation with security forces. This shift in approach coincides with the suspension of a joint operation between the Ugandan and Congolese armies.

Tensions have arisen between the Twirwaneho militia and Mai-Mai factions in South Kivu, as MONUSCO plans to depart in the near future.

Ms. Keita thanked the countries that have contributed uniformed personnel to the mission and acknowledged that their service is ongoing.

Source: news.un.org