Guterres urges de-escalation as regional leaders convene on eastern DRC conflict
UN reports indicate that Goma, the provincial capital, is effectively under siege, with exit routes blocked and its airport shut down indefinitely.
As the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) spirals, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning, calling for an immediate de-escalation ahead of a high-stakes regional summit in Dar es Salaam.
“Thousands of people have been killed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo,” Guterres said in an urgent appeal on Thursday.
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“Hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes. Silence the guns. Stop the escalation. Respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
His remarks come as the latest chapter in a decades-long conflict unfolds, with the M23 rebels consolidating their hold over North Kivu.
UN reports indicate that Goma, the provincial capital, is effectively under siege, with exit routes blocked and its airport shut down indefinitely.
Turning point
Guterres framed the current crisis as a turning point, urging regional and international actors to step up efforts to resolve the conflict.
“We are at a pivotal moment, and it is time to rally together for peace. We need the active and constructive role of all players — namely neighbouring countries, sub-regional organisations, the African Union and the United Nations,” he said.
Yet, mediation efforts have historically faltered.
Eastern DR Congo remains a battleground for more than 100 armed groups, many of which have been propped up by foreign interests seeking to exploit the region’s vast mineral wealth.
Economic war
The battle for control of eastern DRC is not just about political recognition — it is fundamentally an economic war.
The region is one of the richest in the world in mineral deposits, including cobalt, gold, and coltan, essential for the global tech industry.
UN experts have repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, allegations Kigali has consistently denied.
Despite international condemnation, the rebels have pressed forward, capturing Goma in January and pushing south towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.
The fallout has been catastrophic.
“We also see the continued threat by other armed groups, either Congolese or foreign. All of this is having an enormous human toll,” Guterres noted.
The humanitarian situation is dire. The UN reports widespread human rights abuses, including sexual violence, forced recruitment, and the looting of humanitarian aid.
Goma, now a city in limbo, is facing a crisis of basic services — healthcare is overwhelmed, schools are shut, and communications infrastructure is crippled.
Another round of talks
Against this backdrop, regional leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will meet in Dar es Salaam under the leadership of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The summit aims to chart a path towards a lasting solution, but expectations remain low.
Previous diplomatic efforts have yielded little beyond statements of concern and recycled resolutions.
Both the EAC and SADC have a stake in the conflict — some member states have deployed troops, others are navigating the complex web of alliances and rivalries.
But history suggests that without concrete action, this latest gathering risks being yet another exercise in diplomacy without consequence.
For now, the guns remain loud, and the exodus from eastern Congo continues.
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