DR Congo Crisis: ‘The Violence Must End Now’, UN Security Council Told
28 January 2025
New York, USA – The United Nations Security Council called for an immediate end to the ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during an emergency session on Tuesday. The meeting was convened following a surge in violence in the eastern part of the country, which has displaced thousands of people and raised concerns about a possible humanitarian crisis.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his opening remarks, expressed deep concern over the situation in the DRC. “The violence must end now,” he said. “The people of the DRC have suffered too much for too long.”
Guterres called on all parties to the conflict to lay down their arms and engage in dialogue. He also urged the international community to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the affected population.
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the DRC, Bintou Keita, briefed the Council on the latest developments on the ground. She reported that the violence had escalated in recent weeks, with armed groups carrying out attacks on civilians and government forces.
Keita said that the humanitarian situation in the affected areas was dire. “Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and are in need of urgent assistance,” she said. “There is a shortage of food, water, and medical supplies.”
The Council members expressed their condemnation of the violence and called for an immediate ceasefire. They also urged the government of the DRC to take steps to protect civilians and hold those responsible for the violence accountable.
Permanent Representative of France to the UN, Nicolas de Rivière, said that the Council was united in its condemnation of the violence. “We demand that all parties to the conflict cease hostilities and engage in a political dialogue,” he said.
Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that the United States was deeply concerned about the situation in the DRC. “We call on all parties to the conflict to respect human rights and international law,” she said.
The Council members also discussed the need for long-term solutions to the crisis in the DRC. They called for reforms to the security sector, the promotion of good governance, and the strengthening of democratic institutions.
The Council adopted a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and the provision of humanitarian assistance. The resolution also authorized the deployment of a peacekeeping force to the DRC to help stabilize the situation.
The UN Security Council has been closely monitoring the situation in the DRC for several years. The country has been plagued by conflict and instability since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960. The ongoing violence has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with millions of people displaced and in need of assistance.
Additional Information:
- The Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, with a population of over 100 million people.
- The country has been plagued by conflict and instability since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960.
- The current violence in the eastern part of the country is fueled by a complex mix of factors, including ethnic tensions, political instability, and the presence of armed groups.
- The UN has been providing humanitarian assistance to the DRC for decades. The UN peacekeeping force in the DRC, known as MONUSCO, is one of the largest in the world.
DR Congo crisis: ‘The violence must end now’, UN Security Council told
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