UN Security Council calls emergency meeting over DR Congo crisis

NEW YORK: The United Nations (UN) Security Council called for an emergency meeting on Sunday (today) at 10 am to discuss the escalating situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), with particular focus on the imminent threat to Goma, the capital of North Kivu.

The spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ravina Shamdasani, voiced serious concerns regarding the increased risk of attack in DR Congo by the M23 armed group. “An attack on Goma could have catastrophic consequences for the hundreds of thousands of civilians, exposing them to severe human rights violations”, she stated.

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Shamdasani also mentioned the alarming rise in sexual violence in the war-torn African nation. She said that armed factions have been known to abduct women and girls, subjecting them to sexual slavery and in many instances, murder.

Following the withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, from South Kivu in June 2024, peacekeepers have been tasked with safeguarding critical locations in North Kivu, including Goma and Sake.

However, ongoing clashes involving the M23, the Congolese Armed Forces and various other armed groups has led to a huge displacement of the general populace.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported that around 400,000 people have been displaced in North and South Kivu since this year. UNHCR spokesperson, Matt Saltmarsh, detailed the dire humanitarian conditions, noting that recent bombings have affected camps for displaced people.

An attack on January 20 resulted in the deaths of two children at the Kitalaga site in South Kivu.

Saltmarsh noted that heavy bombardment in the DR Congo has forced thousands of families to flee displacement sites on the outskirts of Goma in search of safety within the city. “UNHCR personnel remain on the ground in Goma, providing assistance to displaced civilians wherever possible”, he said.

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also raised alarm over the renewed offensive by M23 rebels, which he noted has inflicted a “devastating toll” on civilians. The SG condemned the reported capture of Sake by Rwandan-backed rebels.

He warned that this will heighten the threat to Goma and raise risk of regional conflict. The UN SG urged the M23 rebels to halt its offensive and comply with the ceasefire agreement established on July 31, 2024.

The UNHCR reported that South and North Kivu provinces currently host a whopping 4.6 million internally displaced people. Saltmarsh noted that human rights violations, including looting, injuries and kidnappings have increased.   

Meanwhile, hospitals are nearing capacity with injured civilians. Vulnerable groups, including children, women, and the elderly are facing overcrowded and precarious living conditionswith limited access to essential services.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, the United Kingdom (UK), United States (US) and France have advised their citizens to evacuate Goma while airports and borders remain operational.

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The UN mission to DR Congo, MONUSCO, confirmed that its peacekeepers were  actively engaged in combat against M23.