Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Burundi Times
Published on 2024-02-20 14:23:13
There have been reports of a renewed escalation of hostilities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), prompting the UN peacekeeping mission in the country to call on the M23 rebels to cease their offensive. The UN Mission, MONUSCO, also urged the group to respect the Luanda roadmap, an agreement signed in 2022 by Angola, DRC, and Rwanda that aims to bring peace to the conflict-affected eastern part of the country.
As part of a three-phase process of withdrawal from the country, following a UN Security Council resolution adopted in December, MONUSCO is currently in the process of handing over responsibility to the Congolese Government later this year.
Recent fighting between Government forces and the M23 group, along with indiscriminate bombing, has strained already limited resources to accommodate 800,000 internally displaced people in the region, and 2.5 million others displaced across North Kivu province.
Furthermore, the impact of devastating flooding continues to affect the country. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported that 100,000 houses, 1,325 schools, 267 health facilities, and large areas of agricultural land have been damaged or destroyed, leaving an estimated two million people – nearly 60 percent of them children – in need of assistance.
Amid these challenges, MONUSCO has continued to support the Congolese army by defending major routes leading to key towns of Sake and Goma in North Kivu province. The deteriorating security situation in the area has prompted the Mission to reinforce its presence there by bringing in peacekeepers from its Force Intervention Brigade based in Beni, in the northern part of the province.
The Mission also expressed concern over recent disinformation campaigns targeting peacekeepers, which are hampering their ability to implement their mandate. Peacekeepers are continuing to facilitate the safe passage of civilians fleeing the fighting to more secure areas, including around the Kitchanga base, where some 25,000 civilians have sought UN protection.
Last Tuesday, Peace Operations head Jean-Pierre Lacroix visited MONUSCO with Catherine Pollard, Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, and Christian Saunders, Special Coordinator for Improving UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. The peacekeeping chief reviewed the Mission’s ongoing work in the context of the disengagement plan jointly agreed upon by the Government.
“It is essential that the transfer of responsibility for security and the protection of civilians takes place at the same time as MONUSCO withdraws from certain sensitive areas where peacekeepers ensure the physical safety of several hundred thousand civilians,” Mr. Lacroix said last Tuesday. He also called on the M23 group to cease hostilities.
Earlier this month, UN Special Representative for DR Congo, Bintou Keita, who also heads MONUSCO, condemned a series of attacks on UN staff in Kinshasa and called on Congolese authorities to launch an investigation.
The situation in the eastern DRC remains complex and volatile, as multiple conflicts, natural disasters, and displacement continue to impact the region. The efforts of the UN peacekeeping mission and other humanitarian organizations are crucial in providing assistance and protection to the affected population. Continued support and coordination between the international community and local authorities are essential to address the ongoing challenges and work towards sustainable peace and development in the region.
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