DR Congo Crisis: Security Council Hears Call for ‘Urgent and Coordinated International Action’ Over Goma
28 January 2025
New York: The United Nations Security Council has held an emergency meeting to discuss the escalating crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where fighting between government forces and M23 rebels has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and sparked fears of a humanitarian catastrophe.
The meeting was convened at the request of France, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council, and was attended by representatives from all 15 member states.
In her opening remarks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the situation in Goma “extremely alarming” and urged the Council to take urgent action to prevent further bloodshed.
“We need to act now to prevent a full-scale humanitarian crisis and protect the civilian population,” Guterres said. “The fighting must stop, and all parties must engage in meaningful dialogue to find a peaceful solution.”
The Council also heard from Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the DRC. Kobler painted a grim picture of the situation on the ground, saying that the fighting had caused “widespread displacement, destruction, and suffering.”
“The humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating, with hundreds of thousands of people fleeing their homes and facing the risk of starvation and disease,” Kobler said. “We need immediate international assistance to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.”
The Council members expressed their grave concern about the situation and condemned the violence perpetrated by all parties. They called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the rebels to lay down their arms.
The Council also called for increased humanitarian assistance to the affected population and stressed the need for a political solution to the crisis.
“We need to work together to find a lasting solution to the conflict in the DRC,” said French Ambassador François Delattre, who presided over the meeting. “We cannot afford to let this crisis escalate further.”
The Council members agreed to continue monitoring the situation closely and to take further action as necessary.
Meanwhile, fighting continues on the outskirts of Goma, with reports of government forces making some gains against the rebels. However, it is unclear if this will be enough to end the crisis or if the fighting will continue to escalate.
DR CONGO CRISIS: Security Council hears call for ‘urgent and coordinated international action’ over Goma
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