Wirth opens registration for world-class traditional arts programs in Riyadh    MWL chief welcomes Uzbek official, hails Center's efforts in promoting Islamic values    Etidal and Telegram remove over 30 million extremist posts in Q2 2025    HR Ministry launches 'Skills Week' to empower youth and align talent with labor market needs    Saudi Arabia operates 10 renewable energy projects with SR19.8 billion in investment by end of 2024    Saudia posts 7.2% passenger growth in H1 2025, leads global punctuality    Al-Khateeb hails Taif's tourism appeal as Saudi Summer 2025 gets underway    Housing-starved Hong Kong turns Covid quarantine site into hostel    Trump to meet NATO secretary general as plan takes shape for Ukraine weapons sales    Trump defends US Attorney General Pam Bondi over Epstein files    At least 30 killed in sectarian clashes in Syria    SA police minister suspended over organized crime allegations    Jeddah exhibition showcases 500 years of Makkah and Madinah imagery    Jannik Sinner beats Carlos Alcaraz to win his maiden Wimbledon title    Chelsea defeat PSG 3-0 to win first expanded Club World Cup    France's Lady Liberty artwork goes viral as a new Statue of Liberty could be in the works    Theo Hernández: Al Hilal can compete with Europe's best    Abdullah Al-Qaisoom wins silver at Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship    SFDA approves 'Winrevair' for rare pulmonary hypertension treatment    Michael Madsen, actor of 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs' fame, dead at 67    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



UN calls on militants in eastern DR Congo to 'immediately cease' civilian attacks
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 12 - 06 - 2022

The UN issued a statement on Saturday calling for attacks on civilians by multiple armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to "immediately cease".
Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the UN was "concerned over the deteriorating security situation...and the increase of attacks against civilians by the Cooperative for Development of the Congo (CODECO) and the M23 as well as the on-going presence of other foreign armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Red Tabara and the Forces Démocratique pour la libération de Rwanda (FDLR), which continue to pose a threat to regional stability."
The FDLR is a largely Rwandan Hutu armed group operating inside DRC, some of whose members took part in the 1994 genocide, and Rwanda has reportedly alleged that the Congolese army has been collaborating with it, in the border area.
Disarm, demobilze
The violence must end, he said, urging armed militants to begin participating "unconditionally" in the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program (P-DDRCS), and called on "foreign armed groups to immediately disarm and return to their countries of origin."
"We reaffirm our strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC and strongly condemn the use of proxies," Dujarric added.
The increase in attacks across the volatile region was the focus of a Security Council meeting at the end of last month. The brutal M23 rebel group — which began as a renegade force of army mutineers in 2012 committing many atrocities and war crimes — have launched their biggest offensive against Government forces in a decade, according to news reports.
Assistant Secretary-General for political affairs and peace operations, Martha Pobee, said it was "imperative" for the Council to throw its full weight behind efforts to defuse the uptick in violence, in particular by the M23 group, which as seen thousands displaced, many fleeing across the border to Uganda.
Support for peace
"We welcome and support ongoing national and regional political efforts to accompany the disarmament of armed groups, including by President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya through the Nairobi process", said Dujarric.
He stressed that the UN peacekeeping Mission in DRC, MONUSCO was also working closely with the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, to promote non-military measures for the disarmament of foreign armed groups.
The Spokesperson also welcomed the nomination of President João Lourenço of Angola by the African Union (AU), "to defuse tensions" between the DRC and Rwanda. "The UN fully supports these political efforts."
He noted that in the restive provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri, MONUSCO was "impartially and robustly protecting civilians and helping to neutralize armed groups, as mandated by the Security Council."
Human rights
In delivering on its protection of civilians mandate, MONUSCO is continuing to continues to maintain its support to the Congolese armed forces, while ensuring that it is in strict compliance with the UN Human Rights Due Diligence Policy.
"This is to ensure that the Mission's support to non-United Nations security forces is consistent with the Organization's purposes and principles as set out in the Charter of the United Nations and obligations under international law," Dujarric said.
End hate speech
"We are deeply concerned about reports of increased hate speech in the country against some particular communities, including in the context of the M23's resurgence. Hate speech must be confronted proactively."
He noted MONUSCO and the UN Country Team in DRC, have consistently and unconditionally condemned hate speech in the public square.
Working closely with the UN rights office (OHCHR) and the UN Special Adviser for Genocide Prevention, the United Nations Country Team contributes to combatting hate speech by engaging with authorities at the local, provincial and national levels as well as with journalists and civil society, "to condemn such discourse and supports the prosecution of those who propagate it."
MONUSCO and the United Nations continues to mobilize opinion leaders and influencers to speak against hate speech, including on the Mission's Radio Okapi, and on social media. — UN News


Clic here to read the story from its source.