This comes as leaders from the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community convene in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for a pivotal summit.

With escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guterres emphasised the need for a united front in addressing the crisis and preventing further destabilisation.

The summit comes at a critical time, with the ongoing M23 offensive, allegedly supported by the Rwandan Defence Forces, wreaking havoc in North Kivu and South Kivu. Thousands have been killed, including women and children, while many others have been forced to flee their homes. Guterres appealed directly to the summit leaders to prioritise peace, citing the severe human toll caused by the conflict.

The UN has condemned a range of human rights violations in the region, including sexual violence, forced recruitment of children, and disruptions to essential humanitarian aid. The situation in Goma, once a relative safe haven, has grown increasingly dire, with critical infrastructure collapsing and displaced populations left without access to basic services like water, electricity, and healthcare. Humanitarian efforts are faltering under the weight of the crisis, with many shelters looted or destroyed.

Once confined to North Kivu, the violence now threatens the stability of the entire country and the broader Great Lakes region. MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission, has warned that its capacity to protect civilians is rapidly diminishing as peacekeepers are confined to their bases.

As the Dar es Salaam summit progresses, all eyes will be on the decisions made by leaders, including Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of 
the DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.  

--ChannelAfrica--