Pakistan calls for the UNSC to take decisive measures to end the DR Congo crisis.

UNITED NATIONS (APP) — In an emergency session called by the escalating violence and killings in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Pakistan called on the UN Security Council to address the conflict’s primary cause, the illicit exploitation of its natural resources, while emphasizing the need for a decisive action to end the crisis.

As Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram stated, “This calls for increased oversight and traceability mechanisms, working in coordination with the DR Congo government and regional and international partners.”

Hundreds of thousands of people have once again been compelled to leave several active war zones since the renewed offensives by M23, a group of rebels backed by Rwanda, near Goma on January 23. Reception and aid facilities are already overloaded.

In order to settle the crisis, Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, urged the DR Congo and Rwanda to immediately continue their talks under the Luanda process, which is being mediated by President Lourenco of Angola.

Ambassador Akram spoke with the DRC and Rawada foreign ministries earlier this week about the increasing violence in that area.

He stated that Pakistan supports the DR Congo’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and condemns any foreign meddling in its internal affairs.

“The Rwandan forces must leave the DR Congo’s territory,” the Pakistani diplomat declared.

According to the Pakistani envoy’s remarks, M23 forces have been attacking North and now South Kivu, capturing Sake and encircling Goma, causing significant civilian losses, and fighting UN and African peacekeepers, killing or injuring a number of them.

“Those who commit, support, or sponsor these attacks must be held accountable for these war crimes against civilians and UN peacekeepers who are deployed under the Security Council’s mandate,” he declared.

“The M23 must immediately stop its attacks, including spoofing and jamming, leave the areas it has taken over, and adhere to the ceasefire agreement signed on July 31, 2024.”

Expressing admiration for the bravery of Blue Helmets, Ambassador Akram called on MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo, and the UN to act quickly to protect civilians as well as the UN and other peacekeeping forces in eastern DR Congo.

He remarked, “We are especially concerned for the Pakistani Artillery Battery located in Sake and adjacent parts,” highlighting how vulnerable it is to the attacking M23 forces and how it lacks auxiliary forces to protect itself.

Ambassador Akram demanded that this unit be promptly re-deployed in order to protect its heavy equipment and personnel from the rebel army. According to him, redeployment will also allow the battalion to better support the DR Congolese military in their movements.

Additionally, the Pakistani ambassador emphasized the necessity of a military strategy that is effective in countering the M23, which has more sophisticated capabilities and outnumbers the DR Congo and peacekeepers.

He recalled that Pakistan had been successful in preserving peace and order in South Kivu and expressed the opinion that the drawdown, which involved the removal of Pakistani forces from the region, was hurried and motivated by political factors.

He went on to say, “We must fortify MONUSCO and give it the tools it needs to address the issues in eastern DR Congo.”

Earlier, the humanitarian coordinator in DR Congo, Bruno Lemarquis, expressed his profound concern regarding the intensification of ongoing fighting around the city of Goma and its growing impact on civilians.

Several displacement sites on the outskirts of Goma, hosting more than 300,000 people, have been completely emptied within hours.

Humanitarian actors, including essential personnel who remain operational in Goma, are doing everything possible to address the needs of the most vulnerable civilians despite an alarming deterioration of security in displacement sites and certain neighborhoods of the city.

The proximity of fighting to densely populated areas and the use of heavy artillery impose intolerable risks on civilians. The emergency capacities of Goma’s hospitals are overwhelmed, despite support from humanitarian actors.

“On behalf of the humanitarian community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I call on all parties to the conflict to immediately halt the military escalation. This violence exacerbates the suffering of populations in eastern DR Congo and worsens the already precarious conditions of civilians,” he said.