The region suffers from violence that comes mainly from various armed groups, including the M23 rebel force, which has fought a major campaign against the Government forces, supported by the UN mission there known by its French acronym, MONUSCO, as part if it belongs to you. important protection-of-the-city orders.
Hundreds of civilians have been killed at the hands of armed groups, which “continue to sow terror” the UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, Huang Xia, explained to the Commission.
Diplomatic relations have deteriorated between Kinshasa and Kigali, over whether the M23 rebel movement, which grew primarily from a section of former DRC military personnel, is supported by Rwanda – an accusation strongly denied in Kigali. Cross-border incidents earlier this year led to a greater risk of escalation and conflict, the Commission heard last month.
Conflicts are decreasing
“On the military front, a delicate balance has been placed in eastern DRC. Days pass without major clashes,” said the UN representative.
“Between the DRC army and the March 23 Movement, a fragile peace seems to be on hold. The mission of the East African Regional Task Force continues. The unique exchange between Kigali and Kinshasa has decreased”, he continued.
However, he stressed that “there are serious risks” and the withdrawal of the M23 fighters from the recently captured areas in the east, “is partial.”
He highlighted the importance of the two diplomatic tracks that serve to promote negotiation within and outside the borders of the DRC, which are called the Luanda Process and the Nairobi Process.
Negotiating the elusive solution
“The political solution of a negotiation, which is called for by more and more voices, has been slow to materialize”, said Mr. Xia.
“The risk of renewed conflict is still real” he added, while local and foreign groups in the east relaxed, “the spread of terror and oil instability.”
He also said that “the social and humanitarian consequences of this situation are catastrophic”, causing a seemingly endless return of inter-communal tensions in the region, and the spread of hate speech.
Some 600,000 have been displaced in North Kivu alone, while 38,000 more Congolese became refugees between October last year and this February.
“Tensions continue between Rwanda and the DRC. The trust between the two countries seems to be at an all-time high, he told the delegation.
Push more for peace
He said that the total change that has passed in the Great Lakes region, requires the Security Council and all partners working for peace in the region to “renew and strengthen our efforts.”
“We need to take advantage of the small window of opportunity that is now open. We must promote a real reduction in tensions. We must support local efforts to end the crisis. ”
He said that the full implementation of the commitments made under the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region, is necessary.
“This agreement is more useful than ever, if it is given its full potential by concrete actions brought about by a strong political will”, he said.
For ‘joint support’
“The Great Lakes region, let’s do it again, does not need a new war … In this situation, regional peace proposals should be welcomed and supported”, Mr. Xia continued, adding that the Luanda Policy is focused on bringing- restore peace between the DRC and Rwanda, while in Nairobi, managed by the East African Community, efforts continue to combine political consultation, with “military efforts”.
“These two important initiatives require our strong collective support,” he told delegates. “They are two complementary approaches to the resolution of the current crisis.”
