Democratic Republic of the Congo

NEW YORK, 28 January 2025 / PRN Africa / -- The Security Council met for the second time in three days on Tuesday over the escalating crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with UN agencies and partners on the ground reporting chaos in the streets of the regional capital Goma amid rising death and displacement as the M23 armed group takes over towns and villages. App users can follow our live coverage as it happened, here.

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Here are some highlights from today:

Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative for Protection and Operations in the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) briefed the Security Council earlier this afternoon from Goma on the situation in the country, saying the level of suffering is ‘unimaginable’

Ms. van de Perre also underlined in her briefing the dire humanitarian situation and the need for “urgent and coordinated international action” to stop the fighting between Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and Congolese forces as they battle for control of the city

The UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, said the impact of the violence on civilians is devastating, and the scale of suffering cannot go unnoticed

UN agencies reported rapes and looting in Goma

'Goma has fallen,' World Food Programme (WFP) spokesperson warned

UN human rights chief called for urgent action

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The Security Council convened its second emergency meeting in three days on Tuesday to address the escalating crisis in Goma, the regional capital of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Head of the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), provided a detailed briefing from Goma, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation and the need for “urgent and coordinated international action,” to stop the fighting between Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and Congolese forces – as they battle for control of the city.

She reported that the recent clashes have led to massive displacement, with over 178,000 people fleeing Kalehe territory after the M23 took control of Minova.

More than 34,000 of those on the run have sought refuge in already overcrowded IDP sites in and around Goma, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and overwhelming the city's infrastructure.

Rwanda says DRC’s obsessions lay at root of the conflict

Rwanda’s representative, Ernest Rwamucyo, condemned attacks against his country, recalling that such recent and repeated incidents are support by DR Congo.

“Rwanda knows the dividend of peace,” he said, stressing that the presence of military forces near its border represents a security threat.

For its part, Rwanda is providing humanitarian aid to refugees, sheltering those displaced and assisting the transfer of MONUSCO and other UN personnel through Kigali, the capital.

However, attacks Kinshasa on diplomatic missions and embassies, including Rwanda’s, are a concern, he said.

“The deteriorating situation in the eastern DRC has only one immediate cause: the obsession by the president of the DRC for a military solution and thirst for a regime change in Rwanda,” he said.

Rwanda called for, among other things, the withdrawal of foreign troops and repatriation of European mercenaries and reiterated Kigali’s support for MONUSCO.

DR Congo: “Indifference is not an option”

DR Congo’s Foreign Affairs Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba said Rwanda’s actions, which “constitute crimes against humanity” and continue with impunity in areas like Goma. She detailed the ongoing suffering, including the plight of trapped civilians and the establishment of parallel administrations by the Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) in occupied territories.

The minister strongly criticised Rwanda, accusing it of disregarding the Security Council’s authority and exploiting the organ’s inaction to perpetuate violence and destabilisation.

Prevent a precedent of powerlessness

The Security Council should avoid setting a precedent of “powerlessness” in the face of aggression, she said.

Highlighting the regional implications, she rejected the notion that inaction could be deemed an “African solution” and said the attack on the DR Congo was also an attack on the principles of multilateralism and the UN’s foundational values.

Ms. Wagner laid out five urgent demands: the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops from DRC territory, the establishment of targeted sanctions against Rwanda and an embargo on natural resources identified as Rwanda. She also demanded the exclusion of Rwanda as a troop-contributing country to peacekeeping missions and full transparency regarding arms transfers to the country.

UN relief agency calls for ramped up support

The UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, said the impact of the violence on civilians is devastating, and the scale of suffering cannot go unnoticed.

"We urge the international community to ramp up efforts to address the rapidly deepening crisis," the UN agency said on social media.

SOURCE UN News Centre