UN approves peacekeepers to help deal with rebels in eastern DR Congo
Army officials attend the trial of soldiers of the Democratic Republic of Congo Army attend their trial in Lubero on July 6, 2024. Twenty-five soldiers accused of "fleeing the enemy" while fighting M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo were sentenced to death Wednesday during a one-day trial, according to their lawyers. A total of 31 defendants, including 27 soldiers and four of their civilian wives, appeared before the Butembo garrison military court in North Kivu province, near the front line. (Photo by Seros MUYISA / AFP)
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(AFP) - The UN Security Council on Tuesday authorized the use of peacekeepers in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to provide technical and logistical support to the fight against rebel groups.
The Southern African regional force called SAMIDRC, deployed in North Kivu province, has been assisting DRC government forces in combatting the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, a group that has seized vast reaches of territory in the region since 2021.
The resolution unanimously adopted on Tuesday allows the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC to support the SAMIDRC through "enhanced coordination, information-sharing and technical assistance."
The resolution also welcomed a ceasefire agreement signed July 30 between the DRC and Rwanda, calling for a "lasting" peace between parties.
On Sunday, the day the ceasefire was meant to take effect, an M23 group seized territory on the Ugandan border with North Kivu.
The eastern part of DRC, a region rich in minerals and other wealth, has endured violence for over 30 years amid fighting from local and foreign armed groups. Many of them stem from regional wars dating back to the 1990s.
The deployment of SAMIDRC follows a year-long mission by the East African Community (EAC) after its mandate ended at the request of the DRC government, which accused the EAC of working alongside M23 rebels instead of fighting them.
UN peacekeepers have had a presence in east DRC since 1999 but have been gradually withdrawing from the region, finalizing their departure from South Kivu in June.
© Agence France-Presse
