Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
UN, December 13 (Xinhua) — UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix warned on Friday that the escalation of fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) risks fragmenting the country with regional implications.
The new offensive launched in recent days by the March 23 Movement (M23), part of the Congo River Alliance (ARC) rebel group in South Kivu, has once again raised fears of a possible regional conflict with unpredictable consequences, Jean-Pierre Lacroix said at a briefing to the Security Council.
According to him, “recent events pose a serious threat of gradual fragmentation of the DRC, especially its eastern part.”
The territorial expansion of the ARC/M23, the creation of parallel administrations and the weakening of the state's presence in certain areas are fueling dynamics that directly threaten the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC, he warned.
The conflict is increasingly becoming regional in nature. The direct or indirect involvement of armed forces and groups from neighboring countries, as well as the cross-border movement of populations and combatants, significantly increases the risk of a regional conflict, noted Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
He added that the speedy implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2773, which calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, remains crucial for diplomatic efforts to lead to tangible improvements in the situation on the ground.
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