UN deploys troops to more parts of eastern DRC after fresh violence

The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is deploying to more areas in the eastern parts of the country following a fresh wave of violence by various armed groups.

The decision, according to Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, came after members of the Zaire and CODECO armed groups clashed at a mining site about 40 kilometres from Bunia in Ituri Province, North Kivu.

One of the areas the MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade returned to is Malende, seven kilometres from Butembo town in North Kivu, which is prone to attacks by ADF rebels.

Upon their arrival, Radio Okapi reported that they were attacked several times by some local armed groups, prompting an exchange of fire that resulted in one soldier sustaining a gunshot wound to his left leg.

A report by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, covering the period between December 1 last year and March 19 this year, shows that the mission recorded 597 security incidents in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.

"In total, 531 civilians were reportedly killed, including 97 women and 34 children. A total of 283 civilians sustained injuries, including 36 women and 25 children. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the Coopérative pour le développement du Congo (CODECO) remained responsible for most killings of civilians (354 civilians killed in North Kivu and Ituri combined, including 75 women and 21 children), whereas protection of civilian concerns in North Kivu grew significantly, owing to repeated ceasefire violations between M23 and the Congolese armed forces in the Petit Nord," the report stated.

According to the report, the situation has been worsened by the return of M23 rebels to strategic positions amid the presence of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC).

"On February 12, M23 dislodged the Congolese armed forces from three strategic positions north of Sake, entering the perimeter of Operation Springbok of MONUSCO, and advancing towards Sake, triggering the withdrawal of the Congolese armed forces from Sake towards Mubambiro and sending tens of thousands of internally displaced persons from the wider Sake area towards Goma," the report says.

It adds that while the FARDC (the Congolese army) and the Volontaires pour la défense de la patrie (VDP) returned to Sake, M23 retained control of its immediate outskirts.

The situation has been worsened by more armed groups taking up arms to "protect civilians."

However, during the reporting period, the Force maintained five blocking positions around Goma to protect the town from M23 by restricting M23 access to the area and limiting fighting within urban centres.

"By preventing the isolation of Goma by M23, the Force also helped to ensure the continued delivery of aid to camps of internally displaced persons that sprung up within the city and on its outskirts," the report adds.

On Sunday, Pope Francis condemned the "massacres recently committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo" calling on the local authorities and the international community to put an end to them.

"There have been more massacres recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I appeal to the national authorities and the international community to stop the violence and to protect civilians," he said.