UN urges immediate end to fighting in eastern DR Congo

GENEVA: The UN called Thursday for an immediate end to fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) between the armed forces and the M23 militia.

The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group has seized vast swathes of territory since it re-emerged in 2021 in eastern DR Congo, which has been plagued by conflict for over 30 years.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk said he deplored the impact of recent clashes on civilians.

“It is deeply troubling that despite the agreements reached as part of the ongoing peace processes, fighting continues unabated in eastern DRC – killing, injuring and displacing civilians and destroying livelihoods,” he said in a statement.

“I urge the Congolese armed forces and the M23 to immediately step back from further violence and urgently act to de-escalate tensions,” he added.

The statement said there had been increased hostilities between the DRC armed forces and the M23 in South Kivu province’s Fizi and Mwenga territories over the last two weeks.

It said both sides had used armed drones, heavy artillery and other explosive weapons in civilian-populated areas, with many civilians killed and others injured, while livestock and homes were destroyed.

Turk said there had been intense clashes around Mulima village in Fizi on July 4 and 5.

South Kivu is one of the four provinces in eastern DRC affected by the ongoing deadly Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo species of the virus – for which there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics.