Eastern DRC: UN envoy calls for all efforts to be directed towards "an unconditional ceasefire"
New York, US (PANA) - As the resurgence of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since January has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and worsened the humanitarian crisis, the UN envoy to the country called on Thursday before the Security Council to direct “all efforts towards an unconditional ceasefire”.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, "remains committed to supporting ongoing regional peace initiatives", said Bintou Keita, head of the mission, during a briefing on the situation in the DRC to Council members.
"The Mission also stands ready to use its capabilities to implement a possible ceasefire," she added.
She noted, however, that "despite significant regional and international efforts, the immediate and unconditional ceasefire called for by the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union, Security Council Resolution 2773 and, more recently, under the auspices of Qatar, has not yet materialised".
"It is imperative that all parties honour their stated commitment to silencing the guns and seeking a peaceful solution," she added, expressing gratitude to Angolan President and current Chairperson of the African Union, João Lourenço, "for his tireless mediation efforts aimed at restoring dialogue between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda".
She called for the swift appointment of an African Union mediator to lead the panel of facilitators appointed by the joint EAC-SADC Heads of State summit, with a view to coordinating and unifying mediation initiatives, building on the foundations of the Luanda and Nairobi processes.
-0- PANA MA 27March2025
