Since January 2025, the resurgence of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
On Thursday, Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC, urged the Security Council to focus “all efforts towards an unconditional ceasefire.”
She recalled that despite significant regional and international initiatives, the call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire launched by the East
African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community SADC), the African Union, and Security Council Resolution 2773 has still not been implemented.
“It is imperative that all parties respect their commitment to silencing the guns and seeking a peaceful solution,” she insisted.
The security situation remains critical with the expansion of the March 23 Movement (M23) and the Congo River Alliance (AFC) in North and South
Kivu.
“Today, the AFC/M23 controls large areas of these provinces and threatens to expand into Tshopo and Maniema,” she warned.
These armed groups have established a parallel administration, appointing their own leaders and illegally exploiting natural resources.
In Ituri, clashes between CODECO and Zairian armed groups are intensifying, targeting civilian populations and camps for displaced persons.
Bintou Keita also warned against “the creation of a new politico-military movement, the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CRP), led by Thomas Lubanga, a former inmate of the International Criminal Court.”
Despite the restrictions, MONUSCO remains “fully committed to fulfilling its mandate” to protect civilians.
“We have strengthened our cooperation with local authorities, notably through joint patrols to curb armed crime,” she emphasized.
Faced with a growing humanitarian crisis, she denounced “the impact of the prolonged closure of Goma and Kavumu airports, which is hampering the delivery of aid.”
Finally, she called on the Security Council to take concrete measures against perpetrators of human rights violations and to reopen these essential infrastructures to facilitate humanitarian aid and the rotation of MONUSCO troops.
SS/te/fss/gik/APA