UN Envoy Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Eastern Congo

United Nations special envoy to Congo, Bintou Keita, has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), urging an end to the escalating violence.

“There is no military solution that will end this suffering. Peace, security, and development in eastern DRC require an end to violence and a commitment to inclusive dialogue and reconciliation,” Keita stated during a briefing on Friday.

The conflict has intensified in recent weeks, with M23 rebels—backed by thousands of Rwandan troops, according to U.N. experts—capturing two key cities in Congo’s resource-rich east. In a rapid offensive, the rebels seized Goma last month before advancing to Bukavu over the weekend, marking their most significant territorial gains in over a decade and heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.

M23 is one of approximately 100 armed groups operating in eastern Congo, but it stands apart due to its composition of ethnic Tutsis who were never integrated into the Congolese army. The group claims to be defending ethnic Tutsis and Congolese of Rwandan descent from discrimination, though critics argue their campaign is a front for Rwanda’s strategic economic and political interests in the region.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has accused Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi of failing to address the grievances of Congo’s ethnic Tutsis and disregarding past peace agreements.

Following the fall of Goma, Keita, who also leads the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO), reported that 1,400 high-risk individuals have sought protection from the mission, warning that the situation has become unsustainable.

“MONUSCO urgently calls for a safe, dignified, and internationally supported solution for relocating these individuals to a secure location, with full respect for their rights and choices,” Keita said. “The continued occupation of North Kivu by M23, supported by the Rwandan Defense Forces, has severely constrained MONUSCO’s ability to fully implement its mandate in the province.”

Keita also condemned the atrocities committed by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group notorious for brutal attacks on civilians in eastern Congo.

The U.N. Human Rights Council has launched a commission to investigate alleged war crimes, including reports of mass killings and sexual violence carried out by both sides of the conflict.

As the crisis escalates, calls for diplomatic intervention and sustained international pressure are growing, with hopes that dialogue can prevent further bloodshed in the war-torn region.

Africanews/S.S