UN calls for 'immediate, unconditional ceasefire' in eastern DR Congo

WASHINGTON

The UN on Friday urged all armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to abide by an “immediate, unconditional ceasefire,” warning that renewed fighting in South Kivu risks triggering a wider regional escalation with “incalculable consequences.”

Briefing the Security Council, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said the latest offensive by the AFC and M23 rebels has underscored the widening gap between political commitments and the dire reality on the ground.

He said persistent hostilities threaten to derail fragile diplomatic efforts under the Washington and Doha tracks.

“The prompt implementation of Resolution 2773 … remains essential if diplomatic progress is finally to translate into tangible improvements in the situation on the ground,” he said, reaffirming UN and MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) support for ongoing regional initiatives.

Lacroix warned that despite some recent diplomatic momentum, violations of agreed ceasefires and the resumption of clashes continue to erode trust between parties while civilians “remain the primary victims.”

The scale of the crisis is staggering, he added. Some 5.35 million people are displaced inside the country, including 2.68 million displaced since January, while 2.9 million have returned either forcibly or voluntarily, according to the senior UN official.

More than 24 million people face acute food insecurity, Lacroix said, adding: “At the same time, humanitarian agencies are facing crippling funding shortfalls. As of today, the Humanitarian Response Plan for DRC is only 22% funded. The consequences of these funding gaps are devastating.”

The M23 resumed fighting in 2021, launching a lightning offensive that led to the capture of several territories, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu.

The UN, Kinshasa, and others accuse neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23, which Kigali denies.

The rebel group has been appealing to Burundian troops to pull out of Congo, saying their presence amounts to interference in Congolese affairs.

But on Monday, Burundi’s Foreign Minister Edouard Bizimana warned that “any attack targeting Burundian citizens or soldiers deployed in the DRC will never be tolerated.”

Addressing the Security Council, DRC Foreign Minister Thwrwsw Kayikwamba Wagner said Rwandan bombings, explosive drones and coordinated offensives began “less than 24 hours” after the peace deal was signed earlier this month.

“It is unacceptable that a solemn agreement should be trampled on the very day it was signed,” she said.

Noting that the enforcement of Resolution 2773 is what is missing, she said: “It is now up to the international community to uphold the commitments undertaken and pave the way for lasting peace.”

Rwanda’s UN representative Ernest Rwamucyo rejected the accusations, insisting they remain committed to implementing the agreement. He blamed DRC for “repeatedly” breaking the ceasefire and said Congolese and Burundian forces carried out offensive operations despite ongoing diplomacy.

“If we all commit to implementing in good faith the commitments we made in Washington… we have the possibility of a peaceful solution,” Rwamucyo added.