The resumption of hostilities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is taking a devastating toll on civilians and risks a broader, regional war, the spokesman for the UN Secretary General warned this week. “Since the beginning of the year, the M23 has launched large-scale offensive operations in the east of the DRC with the support of the Rwandan armed forces,” reported peacekeeping’s Under-secretary General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, as clashes continued to escalate.
On January 26th, the M23 and the Rwanda Defence Forces launched an attack on the strategically important city of Goma, reported Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative for Protection and Operations of MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, during a Security Council briefing on Tuesday. “These attacks continue to ravage the city, killing, injuring, traumatizing, and displacing civilians and exacerbating the crisis,” she said.
MONUSCO forces have been supporting the armed forces of the DRC (FARDC) and associated regional forces for days, including with direct fire support from MONUSCO artillery. However, faced with a determined attack by a superior force directly supported by the Rwanda military, MONUSCO was forced to relocate non-essential personnel by air and road and many of the Mission’s remaining peacekeepers were forced to take shelter in bunkers as the fighting raged around them. The protection of UN personnel and assets became the primary concern but running short of supplies including ammunition and water, MONUSCO blue helmets found themselves at the limits of what a peacekeeping mission can do in the absence of a political process.
In this volatile and dangerous context—three UN peacekeepers made the ultimate sacrifice on the cause of peace and at least 20 others have been injured in a matter of days—while the Mission continues to protect civilians, receiving large numbers of people at its facilities and working with partners to implement protection measures for human rights defenders and civil society organizations. However, ultimately MONUSCO’s bases cannot accommodate the large numbers of vulnerable populations in need of safety. Moreover, the bases themselves are not safe. “Two mortars fell in MONUSCO’s bases and compounds in the last three days,” Ms. Van de Perre said, “as well as countless bullets.”
Amid the worsening crisis, Ms. van de Perre called for the urgent establishment of humanitarian corridors and the protection of civilians, and called on all parties to “cease hostilities and commit to political dialogue in order to prevent further civilian suffering.” The Secretary General urged Rwanda and the DRC to remain engaged in the Luanda peace process and bring an end to the conflict. Ultimately, the crisis in the DRC requires an inclusive pollical solution, as stated by the Security Council which called on Rwanda and the DRC to “return to diplomatic talks to achieve a lasting and peaceful resolution of the protracted conflict in the region”.
