DRC: Swiss President visits Bukavu and indignant at the situation in the East

2023-04-15T23:05:10.420Z

Highlights: Switzerland is concerned about the negative impact of conflicts and structural crises on the populations living in eastern DRC. The President of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset, made the remarks at the end of a five-day humanitarian visit to the D Congo. "We are very alarmed by what we have seen, including the scale of the humanitarian crisis, and the fact that the crisis on the ground is multifaceted," he said. Switzerland will take over the presidency of the UN Security Council for one month from 1 May.

Switzerland is concerned about the negative impact of conflicts and structural crises on the populations living in eastern DRC. Words of the President of the Swiss Confederation Alain...

DRC: Swiss President visits Bukavu and indignant at the situation in the East

The President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset (illustration image) AFP - FABRICE COFFRINI

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Switzerland is concerned about the negative impact of conflicts and structural crises on the populations living in eastern DRC. Remarks by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset, at the end of a five-day humanitarian visit to the DRC, which took him to Kinshasa, Goma and Bukavu in the province of South Kivu, which is also the seat of Swiss cooperation in the DRC.

Advertising

With our correspondent in Bukavu, William Basimike

During a press conference in Bukavu to complete his mission, Alain Berset did not hide his anger at the dramatic situation in the East. "We are very alarmed by what we have seen, including the scale of the humanitarian crisis, and the fact that the crisis on the ground is multifaceted. Many displaced populations, widespread human rights violations, the food crisis, violence against women and children, and all this is unacceptable! We must commit ourselves to correcting such situations. My message is to call on all parties to the conflict to respect human rights, human rights and international humanitarian law.

Switzerland will take over the presidency of the UN Security Council for one month from 1 May. Alain Berset intends to use this position to raise the debate on the DRC. "The sovereignty of a country must be guaranteed. It does not have to tolerate incursion or fighting that is the effect of forces outside the country. We will, of course, ensure that the Democratic Republic of Congo and its crisis-affected population get the necessary attention from the international community."

Also, the President of the Swiss Confederation remains convinced that the UN mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, is an important player for stability in the east of the country, even if the record of this force is criticized in the country.

► Read also: Arrived in the DRC, the Swiss President Alain Berset will go on the ground in the East

DRC: Swiss President visits Bukavu and indignant at the situation in the East

DRC: Swiss President visits Bukavu and indignant at the situation in the East

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest