A top United Nations (UN) official says it is imperative that the Security Council takes urgent and decisive steps to avert a wider regional war in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Secretary General’s Special Representative and head of MONUSCO, Binto Keita, was briefing the Council in an emergency session due to continued territorial expansion of the M23 rebel group, including in South Kivu where the provincial capital of Bukavu has also fallen.

The Council heard that despite international calls for a ceasefire and a cessation of offensives, the M23, supported by Rwanda’s Armed Force, has continued to make advances.

The UN reports that the rapid and uninterrupted expansion of the conflict, particularly in South Kivu, continues to inflict a heavy toll on the civilian population.

“The M23, supported by the Rwandan army, has continued to make progress in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. This advance has had devastating consequences, leading to the loss of many human lives during the taking of Goma. In two weeks, the Congo River Alliance of which the M23 is one of the main components, has established a parallel administration in Goma with the designation of a Governor and a Mayor.

In South Kivu, the M23 took control of Kavumu Airport and Bukavu, the provincial capital, on the 16th of February. The M23 has since then continued its advance and yesterday seized the town of Kamanyola, which is at the intersection of the three borders between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi,” says Keita.

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The UN highlighted three key priorities towards arresting the situation: de-escalation via an immediate cessation of hostilities and compliance with international law by all the parties; the resumption of dialogue towards a political solution and not a military one drawing on the provisions of the Luanda and Nairobi Processes; and a holistic regional approach to address the root causes of the conflict.

The Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Huang Xia, further explained the prevailing dynamics in the region: “At the end of January, we witnessed history repeating itself worryingly when M23, supported by the Rwandan Defence Forces, once again stormed the city of Goma. Today, after only three weeks, M23 now controls Bukavu and if our information is correct, they continue to advance towards other strategic areas in North and South Kivu. At this stage, we are not aware of the intricacies of the M23 agenda and do not really know the intention of their backers. Neither do we know how far they will go or why.”

MONUSCO also reports severe restrictions on its movement by M23, as Binto Keita explained.

“Since the taking of Goma, the M23 has been imposing severe restrictions on MUNUSCO’s freedom of movement, preventing efforts aimed at evaluating damage done to Goma airport and efforts to support the safe elimination of unexploded ordnance in the city. The M23 has also prevented MUNUSCO from resupplying with water and other vital goods to the troops of the Southern African Development Community mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo SAMIDRC. What’s more, the M23 is in control of all roads entering and leaving the area under its control. That poses serious challenges to the civilian and uniformed personnel of MUNUSCO for rotations which are essential for the implementation of its mandate.”

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The region’s most vulnerable groups again pay the highest price of the continued instability amid continued reports of violations and the looting of humanitarian facilities in the region.

“The M23 offensive in North Kivu and South Kivu has increased the vulnerability of girls and women to conflict-related sexual violence, mass displacement, the influx of combatants and prisoners, and the proliferation of weapons of considerably exacerbated injuries. At the same time, logistical and security constraints continue to the United Nations ability to verify reported cases in South Kivu,” said Keita.

The Security Council is considering a draft resolution on the crisis; the language of the draft could change but threatens sanctions against the leadership of the M23 and those providing external support to the group, including those violating the existing sanctions regime and arms embargo.

It remains unclear when the Council will table the vote as negotiations continue.

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