By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN chief António Guterres on Saturday has welcomed the peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda signed on Friday in Washington, DC.
He said in a statement issued by the spokesman’s office in New York that the accord is “a significant step towards de-escalation, peace and stability in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region”.
The eastern DRC has been plagued by dozens of armed groups who have terrorized the population.
The Government has long accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group which Rwanda has denied.
M23 launched an offensive in North and South Kivu provinces, capturing cities and villages, including provincial capitals Goma and Bukavu.
Thousands of civilians were killed, hundreds of thousands more were displaced, and serious human rights violations were committed.
Mr. Guterres commended the US for its leadership in facilitating the mediation process, in coordination with Qatar and the African Union Mediator, President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the five co-facilitators designated by the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community, the statement sa]id.
He urged the parties to fully honor their commitments under the peace agreement and in line with UN Security Council resolution 2773 (2025), including the cessation of hostilities and all other agreed measures.
The resolution, unanimously adopted in February, condemned the M23 offensive and called for the DRC and Rwanda to return to diplomatic talks, the statement noted.
Mr. Guterres concluded the UN and its peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, “remains fully committed to supporting the implementation of the agreement, in close coordination with the African Union, regional and international partners.”
He stressed that coincidentally, the Security Council met on Friday to discuss developments in the DRC.
Special Representative and Head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, welcomed the peace agreement as a significant step towards ending the conflict, the statement added.
