UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) — UN peacekeepers in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are redeploying to help defend Goma and Sake towns, a UN spokesman said on Monday.
Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the peacekeeping force from the mission known as MONUSCO is deeply concerned by the renewed escalation of hostilities in North Kivu province.
“Due to the deteriorating security situation around Sake and Goma, the mission is reinforcing its presence there by bringing in peacekeepers from its Force Intervention Brigade, based in Beni, in the northern part of the province,” Dujarric said.
“The peacekeepers reiterate their call on M23 to cease its offensive and to respect the Luanda Roadmap.”He said the UN mission continues to support the Congolese army by defending major routes leading to the key towns of Sake and Goma in North Kivu province.
The spokesman said mission members met with Congolese army coordinators in North Kivu over the weekend for joint military action in the defense of Sake and Goma. MONUSCO also expressed concern over recent disinformation campaigns targeting peacekeepers, hampering efforts to implement its mandate in the DRC.
“UN peacekeepers are continuing to facilitate safe passage of civilians fleeing the fighting to more secure areas, including around its Kitchanga base, where some 25,000 civilians have sought shelter,” Dujarric said. The “Luanda Roadmap” is the July 2022 ceasefire accord agreed on in Luanda, Angola, between the DRC and Rwanda, reported supporter of the M23 rebel group.
