UN Security Council Adopts Resolution on Democratic Republic of Congo that demands the immediate cessation of further military advances by the M23 and calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire at Feb. 21, 2024 meeting.
By Gary Raynaldo – DIPLOMATIC TIMES
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Friday demanding that the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group immediately cease hostilities in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The resolution also calls on the M23 to withdraw from all areas that it controls. France, the penholder on the DRC, authored the draft resolution. Council members have expressed concerns about the human rights and humanitarian situation in the area. Conditions have deteriorated significantly since January as M23 expanded its control over territory in North Kivu and South Kivu province. Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani, described last week “serious” human rights violations and abuses—such as summary executions, including of children, and conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence in eastern DRC—following the rapid deterioration of the security situation. M23 have captured the main cities of Goma and Bukavu with thousands of people reported killed and displaced to neighboring countries including Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. There are fears the M23 rebels are poised to march on the DRC capital of Kinshasha, some 1,000 miles away from the mineral-rich eastern conflict zone.
Zénon Mukongo Ngay, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo Feb. 21, 2024. (UN Photo / Evan Schneider)
The Security Council also called on the Rwanda Defence Forces to stop supporting the armed group and immediately withdraw from Congolese territory “without preconditions.” France ambassador Nicolas de Rivière, who submitted the resolution, made it clear that only a political solution and dialogue can resolve the conflict. “There is no military solution to the conflict in the east of the DRC,” de Rivière said. “The offensive carried out by the M23 supported by Rwanda must be put to an end.” Rwanda has repeatedly denied supporting the M23.
The resolution also strongly condemned all attacks directed against civilians and infrastructure, including UN, humanitarian and medical personnel. It also condemned summary executions and maiming, sexual and gender-based violence, human trafficking and the recruitment and use of children.
