“We are at a pivotal moment and it is time to rally together for peace”, says Antonio Guterres.
Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, emphasized the grave circumstances in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and declared, “It is time for peace”.
The situation is “deeply concerning”, Guterres told reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Thursday, adding that “we are at a pivotal moment and it is time to rally together for peace”.
According to Guterres, the M23 rebels’ attacks and conflicts with the Congolese military will be the main topic of a meeting with leaders of the East African Community and South African Development Community that will be held in Tanzania.
“Next week, in Addis Ababa, I will take part in a summit-level meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council have this crisis will also be front and center”, he tweeted on Thursday, emphasizing his “special appeal for peace”.
According to Guterres, the threat posed by armed groups in Congo and conflicts with the M23 have resulted in a “enormous human toll”, with thousands of civilians slain and countless relocated by force.
“The humanitarian situation in and around Goma is perilous”, he stated, adding that “health care facilities are overwhelmed”.
Basic utilities like phone lines, water, electricity, and schools are “severely limited”, he said, and “the conflict continues to rage in South Kivu and risks engulfing the entire region”.
“Silence the guns is my plain message. Put a stop to the increase. Honor the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Respect international humanitarian law and human rights legislation. He declared, “There is no military solution”.
“It is time to end this crisis”, the UN chief added, urging mediation efforts. Peace is needed. The stakes are excessively high.
When the M23 launched a significant offensive on government forces two weeks ago, fighting broke out in Goma, the provincial seat of North Kivu.
Over 2,900 people were murdered and almost 3,000 were injured, according to the UN’s OCHA report.
Many of thousands of displaced people, including employees of international organizations like the UN and the World Bank, have fled to neighboring Rwanda.
After battling the Congolese army for control of Goma, the M23 unilaterally announced a truce on Monday.
