29 August
2013 – The United Nations Security Council today reiterated its demand to M23
and all other rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to
halt “all forms of violence and lay down their arms,” amid renewed fighting in
the countries strife-torn eastern region.
In a
statement, the Council called on the M23 and the Democratic Forces for the
Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), among other rebel groups, to “immediately and
permanently disband and lay down their arms” and said it was ready to adopt
“additional targeted sanctions against those acting in violation of the
sanctions regime and the arms embargo.”
They
condemned in the strongest terms the “repeated and targeted attacks” by the M23
against civilians and UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the country (MONUSCO), which
have killed several people, including a Tanzanian peacekeeper, and injured
several others.
The
peacekeeper was killed yesterday during an attack in the Kibati heights in
North Kivu as MONUSCO supported the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) in
protecting civilian-populated areas of Goma.
Members of
the Council, who were briefed on this issue by the Assistant Secretary-General
for Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mulet, expressed their condolences to the
family of the peacekeeper as well as to the Tanzanian Government, and called on
DRC authorities to swiftly investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators
to justice.
The
15-member body also expressed concern at reports of repeated mortar shells and
bombs from DRC territory landing in neighbouring Rwanda, and called for a
thorough investigation into the sources of these shells and bombs by the Expanded
Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM).
The Council
praised the active steps taken by the MONUSCO to implement its mandate, in
particular the protection of civilians, and encouraged the continuation of
these efforts. They also welcomed the order by the Secretary-General's Special
Representative in the country, Martin Kobler to take all necessary actions to
protect civilians, and emphasized that any effort to undermine MONUSCO's
ability to implement its mandate will not be tolerated.
In March,
the Council authorized the deployment of an intervention brigade within MONUSCO
to carry out targeted offensive operations, with or without the FARDC, against
armed groups that threaten peace in eastern DRC. The brigade is tasked with
neutralizing armed groups, reducing the threat posed to State authority and
civilian security and make space for stabilization activities.
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