Africa-Press – Angola. The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, praised, this Monday, the involvement of President João Lourenço in the resolution of the crisis in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a note issued this Monday António Guterres highlights the contacts of the President of Angola and Champion of the African Union for Peace and Reconciliation with the rebel group M23, which resulted in the announcement of a ceasefire, the starting this Tuesday, March 7th.
The ceasefire reached was the result of Angolan mediation, in compliance with the decisions of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union on 17 February, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In the note, António Guterres urges the M23 to respect the ceasefire in order to create conditions for its full and effective withdrawal from all occupied areas in the east of the DRC, in line with the decisions of the Mini-Summit of Luanda held on the November 23, 2022.
António Guterres, who reaffirms the UN’s continued support for the processes in Luanda and Nairobi, condemns the violence against civilians and renews his appeal to all Congolese and foreign armed groups to lay down their weapons and unconditionally disarm.
The UN’s highest official urges the parties to the conflict to guarantee immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access to the affected population and guarantee the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law.
It also asks all actors to refrain from hate speech and incitement to violence.
Last Saturday, the head of the peacekeeping mission in the country, Bintou Keita, reaffirmed the presence of the mission in the areas controlled by the M23 to protect civilians.
He added that the mission continues to provide support to the Congolese armed forces, in strict compliance with the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy.
Bintou Keita appealed for strict respect for the ceasefire announced on Friday, also urging the M23 to withdraw from occupied areas and unconditionally disarm.
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