UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday strongly condemned deadly attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Posting on social media platform X, Guterres affirmed the UN’s full commitment through MONUSCO to support Congolese authorities in protecting civilians.
He emphasized efforts to prevent human rights violations, combat impunity, and uphold peace, stressing solidarity with affected families and communities.
The attacks, which occurred in Lubero, North Kivu from November 13 to 19, killed at least 89 people, including 20 women.
In a separate development, the UN Security Council on Saturday welcomed the signing of the Doha Framework for Peace between Congo’s government and the M23 rebel movement.
Council members hailed the framework as a crucial step toward de-escalation and addressing root causes of conflict in eastern Congo.
The council praised mediation efforts by Qatar and the United States while reaffirming the African Union and Togo’s central role in the process.
It urged all signatories to implement a permanent, effective, and verifiable ceasefire, working in good faith to finalize remaining protocols.
Council members expressed continued concern over the security and humanitarian situation in eastern Congo, stressing the importance of civilian protection.
They warned that violations of international humanitarian law and human rights must be investigated and that perpetrators must be held accountable.
The Security Council’s statement underscores the UN’s dual approach: condemning immediate violence while promoting long-term diplomatic solutions in the region.
