Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 12th Dec. UN head António Guterres on Saturday has praised the decision by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to investigate the deadly attacks allegedly committed by the M23 armed group, in a statement issued by UN spokesman office in New York.
He has strongly deplored the attacks, which occurred on 29 and 30 November in the villages of Kishishe and Bambo, located in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu province, in the volatile eastern part of DRC, the statement said.
It noted 131 civilians were killed, 17 women and 12 children, and 8 others were injured.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement on Friday that “The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a swift recovery to the injured,”.
“He welcomes the decision of the Congolese authorities to investigate these incidents with a view to bringing those found responsible to justice,” it said
UN human rights office in the DRC, and its peacekeeping operation there, MONUSCO, will support the government in these efforts.
“The Secretary-General urges the M23 and all other armed groups immediately cease hostilities and disarm unconditionally,” the statement continued.
Guterres also called on all parties to facilitate humanitarian access to affected communities and to ensure the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law, the statement added.
He underlined the UN’s ongoing commitment to support the Congolese government and people in their efforts to bring about peace and stability in the eastern DRC.
It noted that the attacks are the series of violence inflicted on civilians by armed groups in eastern DRC.
MONUSCO chief Bintou Keita briefed the Security Council in New York on Friday.
She told the council members that the security situation in eastern DRC “has deteriorated dramatically” in the past weeks.
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