DR Congo: UN envoy calls for strategy to address root causes of conflict (30.03.2022)

Civilian losses and displacement of populations have increased because of bloody reprisals by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants.

GENEVA, Switzerland, March 30, 2022 – Amid deteriorating security in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the top UN envoy in the country has called for a comprehensive political strategy that includes measures to address the structural causes of the conflicts.

Bintou Keita, who heads the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), was briefing the Security Council on Tuesday, on recent developments there.

She said that only three months into this year, nearly 2,300 civilian deaths had been recorded in the country’s eastern provinces. “This is proof of the inherent limits of only having security operations to resolve conflicts,” she said.

Armed groups

Ms. Keita said the security situation in the country’s east has deteriorated despite the joint military operations against armed groups by the national security forces, known as the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), which was joined by the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

She said civilian losses and displacement of populations have increased because of bloody reprisals by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants.

In the past three months, there has been an alarming increase in activities by the M23 rebel movement in North Kivu. On Monday, M23 elements carried out horrific attacks, targeting civilians in communities near Rutshuru.

In North Kivu, the situation has worsened because of the use of improvised explosive devices by the ADF. On 11 March, its leadership renewed its allegiance to Da’esh. MONUSCO has also documented a 10 per cent increase in human rights violations and attacks, since last December.

Helicopter crash: Investigation launched

Earlier on Tuesday, the mission reported that a search and rescue operation was underway, after a Puma helicopter lost contact with MONUSCO and crashed in the restive North Kivu region.

Speaking at the regular noon briefing, UN Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said there had been eight people on board, including six crew members – all from the Pakistani military – and two military personnel – one from Russia, and another from Serbia.

They had been on a reconnaissance mission in the area of Tshanzu, south-east of Rutshuru – the scene of recent clashes between Congolese forces and M23.

“An investigation is underway. We will update you as soon as more information becomes available”, Mr. Dujarric said.

“Our thoughts are obviously with the families and friends of those onboard the helicopter, and all of our colleagues of the UN Mission of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

Civilians increasingly vulnerable

Ms. Keita sounded the alarm in the Security Council over the considerable erosion of the protection of sites for displaced persons as well as frequent attacks against medical services and other civilian infrastructure.

In the face of these security changes, MONUSCO has redoubled its efforts to better protect civilians in Ituri, working jointly with FARDC/UPDF, deploying support units for FARDC to increase the deterrent effect against M23 in North Kivu.

The Mission is also pursuing mobile deployments to protect displaced persons in South Kivu, she said.

However, without a combined approach addressing both the causes and the symptoms, the efforts of both the United Nations and Congolese forces will remain insufficient, she emphasized, adding that in Tanganyika province, the Mission is closely monitoring the evolution of the security dynamics ahead of its scheduled withdrawal in June.

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DRC: North-Kivu – M23 re-emerges and captures Runyonyi and Chanzu today

Several local sources confirm the capture of Runyonyi and Chanzu by the M23 rebels early this Monday, March 28, 2022. The civilian populations have already evacuated the place to Bunagana. Clashes continue until this morning in the hill of Ndiza, reports local civil society. Bullets from the forehead are audible in the town of Bunagana. Some civilians are crossing the border to Uganda” (Akilimali Saleh Chomachoma, 28.03.2022).

The March 23 Movement (M23) has returned to violence and armed rebellion in North Kivu. As they are claiming the Kinshasa government are violating the terms of the Nairobi Agreement. It is now official reports that M23 intends to occupy the whole Rutshuru territory of the North Kivu province.

What is unique about the M23 is that most of the fighters and such after the peace-agreement was made. They were able to have amnesty and was in cantonments inside Uganda. Which a neighbouring country that also supported M23 together with the Rwandan government. Therefore, this militia has in the past held close ties with Kigali and Kampala. There been routes from both nations, which has served training camps and ammunition to the insurgents with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

There is also reports that M23 is currently besieging and planning to cease the town of Bunagana today. That shows how the M23 is operating and directly targeting areas of which to control. It is also reported that thousands of Congolese civilians has fled from the area towards the border of Uganda, as FARDC and M23 is fighting.

This is frightening news and shows how quickly a militia of the kind of M23 can destabilize a region of the DRC. It is also so close to the border of Uganda, which is only about a few kilo-meters away. Therefore, the safest place for the refugees is there.

North Kivu is yet again in the midst of conflict. Where parties, the government and foreign adversaries could be involved. Because, these M23 fighters, ammunition and planned efforts had to coordinated. While we know where large parts of the cantonment of fighters in amnesty was stationed. Which is only a few kilo-meters away in Uganda. Therefore, God knows why it’s happening now.

This is tragic and yet again bloodshed over the mineral rich regions of Kivu. Peace.

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