Head of peacekeeping defends the territorial integrity of the DRC
Beni, DRC (PANA) - The head of UN peace operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, went to Beni, in the province of North Kivu, on Friday, an opportunity for him to insist on respect for the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo, while the armed group M23, supported by Rwandan forces, controls several territories in the east of the DRC.
Beni temporarily became the provincial capital of North Kivu after the M23 seized the city of Goma several weeks ago.
During his visit to Beni, Mr. Lacroix met with provincial authorities, the new commander of the UN peacekeeping force as well as MONUSCO peacekeepers deployed in the region – all to assess the latest developments in the region, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said at a press briefing in New York.
"Mr. Lacroix was briefed on the security situation in the areas where the Force Intervention Brigade of the peacekeeping mission has established bases, notably in Kanyabayonga, Eringeti, Oicha and Mayimoya," he said.
"He reiterated the urgency of rapidly implementing resolution 2773, which underlines the need to respect the territorial integrity of the DRC and calls for an end to the M23 offensive in North and South Kivu," he added.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix's visit to North Kivu comes after meetings on Thursday in the Congolese capital Kinshasa with government officials, including President Etienne Tshisekedi and Prime Minister Judith Suminwa.
On Saturday, the peacekeeping chief will travel to Entebbe, Uganda, to meet with fellow peacekeepers who were transferred from Goma last month.
For their part, humanitarian agencies have reported a deadly escalation of attacks by the armed group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) that has taken place in recent days.
According to local authorities, ADF attacks killed at least 23 civilians in several villages in Ituri province, eastern DRC, earlier this week. Dozens more people were abducted during the raids, while other villagers fled to nearby areas for safety.
ADF attacks were also reported in Beni territory, North Kivu province, on February 26, killing 17 civilians.
“In South Kivu, insecurity remains a major concern, particularly in the provincial capital, Bukavu, where local medical sources reported that explosions yesterday during an M23 rally killed at least 11 people and injured dozens more in the city centre,” the Secretary-General’s spokesperson said.
Local authorities in South Kivu estimate that more than 125,000 people have been displaced since early February due to clashes in the southeast of Bukavu.
Most of these people have taken refuge in schools, churches and football fields, and ongoing clashes in the region are hampering humanitarian access.
For its part, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said the number of Congolese civilians fleeing the conflict continues to increase.
In just two weeks, 60,000 men, women and children have fled the DRC for Burundi – some walking hundreds of kilometres in a desperate search for safety.
UNHCR and partners are scaling up assistance, setting up tents, distributing food and water to the new arrivals. Relief items such as bedding, buckets and soap are also being distributed.
-0- PANA MA 1March2025
