United Nations — The acting UN envoy to Congo warned the UN Security Council on Thursday that Conflict in mineral-rich eastern Congo It is growing and expanding, with the increasing use of heavy weapons Attack drones They pose serious risks to civilians.
Viviane Van de Berry said that although the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and their allies had withdrawn from the town of Uvira, Under international pressure In January, clashes escalated in North and South Kivu provinces between M23 and Congolese army forces and their supporters.
“The situation in South Kivu remains tense and renewed hostilities have expanded and shifted front lines, including towards the Burundi border, increasing the risk of a regional conflagration,” it warned.
Eastern Congo has been witnessing unrest for decades, with government forces fighting more than 100 armed groups. The most powerful is M23more often Access to its mineral resources. M23 fighters made significant advances in the region early last year, seizing Goma and other major cities while rapidly expanding their presence.
The situation in Ituri province also “remains alarming,” with many casualties from violence linked to one rebel group while another group attacks mining sites, said Van de Per, who heads the nearly 9,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in Congo known as MONUSCO.
Van de Pere cited two “worrying” emerging elements: the conflict is expanding from North and South Kivu into Chubu province, and the use of heavy weapons and drones in urban areas poses risks to civilians and civilian infrastructure, which she said include “recent incidents affecting sites such as Banguka airport in Kisangani and in the town of Goma.”
At the same time, M23 is strengthening parallel administrative structures in areas under its control, including Goma, “further undermining state authority and complicating the delivery of humanitarian aid,” she added.
Officials from Congo, Rwanda, and the United States met in Washington Last week, they agreed on coordinated steps to calm tensions in eastern Congo.
After briefing the Security Council, Van de Pere told reporters that the “extremely volatile” situation in the east is why all agreements signed by the parties must be implemented. She added that the first step should be a ceasefire, followed by the reopening of airports and the restoration of freedom of movement for peacekeeping forces.
Massad Boulos, who chaired the council meeting and is one of US President Donald Trump’s senior advisors for African and Arab affairs, said, “MONUSCO remains indispensable for the success of the peace process.”
He said resolving the conflict in eastern Congo is a “issue of the highest priority” for Trump. He reiterated Van de Pere’s call on the parties to adhere to their obligations and pledges, including respecting the ceasefire.
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This story has been corrected to show that the UN envoy to Congo says one rebel group is linked to violence that caused casualties in Ituri province and that another rebel group is attacking mining sites there.