The United Nations has raised alarm over the rapid advance of the M23 armed group in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), warning of a potential regional conflict. The Rwanda-backed rebels have seized vast areas, including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu, and are now moving towards other strategic zones in North and South Kivu.
Speaking at the UN Security Council, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, Huang Xia, cautioned that the M23’s ultimate intentions remain unclear, but the risk of a wider war is greater than ever. He warned that such a conflict could have catastrophic consequences for the region.
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The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), Bintou Keita, also voiced concerns, highlighting that the rebels are now positioned at the junction of the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi. The situation has sparked fears of a repeat of the Second Congo War (1998-2003), which involved multiple African nations and caused millions of deaths.
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