DRC: the expectations of the displaced during the visit of the UN Security Council mission

M23 rebels in Kibumba, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on December 23, 2022. AFP - GLODY MURHABAZI

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The security situation in the east of the DRC, at the heart of the meeting between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and a UN delegation, on a three-day visit to the country.

The Head of State met on Friday March 10 with the 15 members of the Security Council and the head of Monusco at the Cité de l'Union Africaine in Kinshasa.

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The Head of State, Felix Tshisekedi, welcomed them to " 

Congo, a country under attack 

", in his words, once again accusing Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebellion.

If Kinshasa hopes to see sanctions against Kigali, the representatives of the Council remain cautious.

One of the objectives of their visit is to assess the security situation in North Kivu and they reaffirmed their support for the UN Mission, Monusco, "the

best

solution

 ", according to them, " 

to restore peace

.

»

The members of the Security Council arrive this Saturday, March 11, in Goma.

A few hours before their arrival,

Patient Ligodi

, our special envoy to the region, toured the sites for displaced people around Goma.

"

The M23 makes us suffer so much

 "

Bizimana comes from Rumangabo.

He, his wife and five children fled the violence and live under tarpaulins in Kanyaruchinya, near Goma:

The M23 makes us suffer so much.

These people are killing us like beasts.

They even forbade us to go to our fields which are in Rumangabo.

If you dare to go there, they will kill you

 ”.

He can no longer bear the life of the camp.

He hopes the Security Council will hear his cry: “ 

I ask that they help us.

We want to go home.

Life here is very difficult.

We suffer so much

 !

".

“ 

Currently, the situation is dangerous

 ”

On the other side of town, Josée fled Saké, a city located less than 30 km from Goma.

She and her children found refuge on Friday morning in a school in the Lac Vert district.

She also hopes that the Security Council will get more involved in stopping the advance of the M23: “ 

We fled when we heard the detonations of bombs in the very center of Saké.

We have decided to flee, we who have children.

Right now the situation is dangerous

 .”

Until Friday evening, women, children and old people approached Goma, emptying Saké of its inhabitants.

Read also: DRC: visit by a delegation from the UN Security Council on the security situation

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