The United Nations Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region has told the UN Security Council Wednesday that the fragile ceasefire between the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and the Mouvement du 23 mars (M23) rebels in North Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, DR Congo) seems to be holding. Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the security situation in neighboring Ituri Province remains extremely concerning due to ongoing attacks against civilians.
Eastern DRC is home to multiple armed groups, including the rebel M23 force, Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels, the CODECO armed group and Zaire militants. A dramatic resurgence of clashes between the M23 and the Armed Forces of the DR Congo began in March 2022. The humanitarian situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo drastically deteriorated due to the escalation of the conflict in the North Kivu province.
During his briefing to the council Huang Xia, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, said that, despite some improvements in the east of the DR Congo, the risk of renewed fighting remains real. The ceasefire seems to be holding, and a fragile calm has begun to prevail to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Xia said, noting the passage of days without major clashes between the FARDC and M23.
Over the past year, the resurgence of violence in North Kivu has displaced more than 900,000, including towards the provinces of South Kivu and Ituri. In February alone, nearly 300,000 people fled across Rutshuru and Masisi territories in North Kivu Province. Many are also seeking refuge in Nyiragongo territory. Tens of thousands have fled to neighboring countries Uganda, Rwanda and, Tanzania.
Underscoring that serious risks remain, the Special Envoy said the withdrawal of M23 from occupied areas remains only partial, and the disarmament and containment of the combatants has yet to materialize. A negotiated political solution is still far away, he added. The Special Envoy called on the international community to make the best possible use of the small window of opportunity.
Noting that local and foreign armed groups continue to sow terror and fuel instability, Xia pointed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Rwandan Democratic Liberation Forces (FDLR) and Résistance pour un État de droit au Burundi (RED Tabara).
In neigboring Ituri province, OCHA reported this week that since early April, armed groups have reportedly killed at least 150 civilians in Djugu, Irumu and Mambasa Territories. The attacks have left communities in dire need of assistance and protection.
In one of the worst atrocities on April 14, more than 55 civilians were reportedly killed, and others injured, according to local authorities, when armed assailants attacked villages in Djugu Territory. OCHA notes it was just one of several attacks that have targeted communities in Ituri province.
The United Nations says its agencies and humanitarian partners are committed to supporting the people impacted by this violence. The World Food Prgamme (WFP) has sought to provide food and cash to nearly 239,000 people in areas affected by the violence, also including internally displaced people (IPDs).
Humanitarian organizations are also providing shelter, water and sanitation facilities, as well as health-care and education services. However, the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Ituri province may be delayed in areas that were impacted by recent attacks.
Months of violence and insecurity in Ituri have already forced 1.6 million people to flee their homes. Local and foreign armed groups continue to feed instability, with disastrous social and humanitarian consequences for people in the eastern DRC.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world, and the situation in the country is one of the most neglected displacement crises globally. For decades, the country has endured multiple, overlapping emergencies driven mainly by conflict and forced displacement. The UN estimates that 26.4 million require humanitarian assistance in the country this year.
The DRC already suffers the largest internal displacement crisis in Africa due to the ongoing violence. According to the United Nations, 7.1 million people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been forced to flee their homes. Among them are 6.1 internally displaced person (IDPs) and 1 million refugees, that have sought safety in neighboring countries.
Further information
Full text: Global Community Must Bolster Efforts to Decrease Tensions in Great Lakes Region, Special Envoy Tells Security Council, Highlighting Role of Regional Peace Plans, UN Security Council, press release, published April 19, 2023
https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15262.doc.htm
Full text: RD Congo: Situation humanitaire dans la province de l’Ituri (17 avril 2023), report, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, released April 18, 2023 (in French)
https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/rd-congo-situation-humanitaire-dans-la-province-de-lituri-17-avril-2023