Rwanda : Security Council condemns FDLR rebels
President of the UN Security Council, Li Baodong, has stressed the need for regional cooperation to help uproot armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that are responsible for atrocities against civilians.
Baodong made the remarks on June 18, and expressed strong concern about the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation resulting in significant flows of displaced persons and refugees.
The insurgencies have been caused by the FDLR and M23 rebel forces, which are currently fighting with the congolose government. The war has also resulted into brutal killings and rapes, has forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes.
Baodong strongly condemned the killing and abuse of civilians by armed groups, including the FDLR that mostly targets women and children in the region which has also resulted to many refugees fleeing into the neighboring countries.
. The Security Council statement calls for “all the countries in the region to actively cooperate with the Congolese authorities in demobilizing the M23 and all other armed groups. The Rwandan and Congolese government have been meeting over this issue and asked the respective defense forces to take action.
Apparently, the European Union (EU) and Canada have also pressed ‘strong concern’ over the deteriorating security situation in eastern D.R. Congo and organized crime committed by the militia group.
