UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between rebels and the government could engulf the entire region, DPA reported.
Late last month, the M23 group attacked the city of Goma in North Kivu province and eventually captured it after days of fighting against the military.
The rebels, who experts say are backed by neighboring Rwanda, have been active in eastern DR Congo for years and have already taken control of large parts of the resource-rich North Kivu province.
“We are at a crucial moment and it is time to unite for peace,“ Guterres said in New York, calling for “the active and constructive role of all players“.
“The conflict continues to rage in South Kivu and could engulf the entire region“, Guterres warned.
The UN Secretary-General added that the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo would be discussed at a summit of leaders from the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community, which will be held today in Tanzania, and would be a central topic at a summit of the African Union Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, which will take place next week. The UN Human Rights Council will also discuss the violence in eastern DR Congo today.
“Make the guns fall silent. Stop the escalation. Respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo. "Respect international human rights and humanitarian law," Guterres said.
Some of the world's rarest and most valuable metals are mined in large quantities in North Kivu, including coltan, gold, nickel, cobalt and copper.