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STORY: UN / DRC
TRT: 03:30
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: FRENCH / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 19 FEBRUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UN Headquarters
19 FEBRUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Nations / Head, United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“Despite multiple international calls for a ceasefire and an end to the offensives, the M23, supported by the Rwandan army, has continued its advance in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. This advance has had devastating consequences, leading to the loss of many lives during the takeover of Goma.”
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Nations / Head, United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
"In two weeks, the Congo River Alliance, of which the M23 is a key component, has established a parallel administration in Goma, appointing a governor and a mayor. In South Kivu, the M23 seized Kavumu airport and the city of Bukavu, the provincial capital, on February 16. Since then, the M23 has continued its advance and took control of the city of Kamanyola yesterday."
6. Med shot, DRC Minister of Foreign Affairs
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Nations / Head, United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“The essential MONUSCO infrastructure in Goma and other locations in North Kivu is under extreme pressure. These facilities are sheltering people who have sought refuge there for protection under the Mission, in accordance with international humanitarian law. However, these installations were never designed or equipped to accommodate many people for an extended period. The situation is even more critical as sanitary and hygiene conditions are rapidly deteriorating, posing a risk to both those seeking protection and MONUSCO personnel. This issue is also fueling disinformation and is being used to amplify anti-MONUSCO sentiments.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Nations / Head, United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“The human rights situation in North and South Kivu has significantly deteriorated. In addition to deaths resulting from clashes between the M23 and the DRC security forces, MONUSCO has also documented cases of forced recruitment.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Xia Huang, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, United Nations:
“At this stage, we do not know the true intentions of the M23 and their supporters, how far they will go, or why. However, given recent developments, actions on the ground, and public statements from regional actors, the risk of a broader regional escalation has never been more real.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (Englsih) Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, State Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC):
“This council must act. It can no longer remain a silent witness to an unfolding tragedy, nor hide behind declarations of intent. The time for theoretical debates is over - it is now time to uphold the very principles that defined this institution: peace, security and respect for international law. International law that is universal and applies to all. Even while seeking ‘African solutions.’ Standing by silently when civilians are killed is not a solution, and certainly not an African one.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Ernest Rwamucyo, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Rwanda:
“Rwanda cannot take the blame for the problems that DRC has faced endemically.”
16. Wide shot, Security Council
17. Wide shot, DRC Minister of Foreign Affairs walking to stakeout
18. SOUNDBITE (Englsih) Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, State Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC):
“DRC, the country where this is happening, is refusing to engage only on a military level. We are looking for a political solution, and we are committed to it.”
19. Pan right, Minister of Foreign Affairs leaving stakeout
UN Special Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Bintou Keita reported that despite multiple international calls for a ceasefire and an end to the offensives, the M23, supported by the Rwandan army, has continued its advance in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, with “devastating consequences.” UNIFEED
Addressing the Security Council today (19 Feb) Keita said, “This advance has had devastating consequences, leading to the loss of many lives during the takeover of Goma.”
She continued, "In two weeks, the Congo River Alliance, of which the M23 is a key component, has established a parallel administration in Goma, appointing a governor and a mayor. In South Kivu, the M23 seized Kavumu airport and the city of Bukavu, the provincial capital, on February 16. Since then, the M23 has continued its advance and took control of the city of Kamanyola yesterday."
she highlighted, “The essential MONUSCO infrastructure in Goma and other locations in North Kivu is under extreme pressure. These facilities are sheltering people who have sought refuge there for protection under the Mission, in accordance with international humanitarian law. However, these installations were never designed or equipped to accommodate many people for an extended period. The situation is even more critical as sanitary and hygiene conditions are rapidly deteriorating, posing a risk to both those seeking protection and MONUSCO personnel. This issue is also fueling disinformation and is being used to amplify anti-MONUSCO sentiments.”
She added, “The human rights situation in North and South Kivu has significantly deteriorated. In addition to deaths resulting from clashes between the M23 and the DRC security forces, MONUSCO has also documented cases of forced recruitment.”
Xia Huang, UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, said, “At this stage, we do not know the true intentions of the M23 and their supporters, how far they will go, or why. However, given recent developments, actions on the ground, and public statements from regional actors, the risk of a broader regional escalation has never been more real.”
Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, DRC State Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie, stated, “This council must act. It can no longer remain a silent witness to an unfolding tragedy, nor hide behind declarations of intent. The time for theoretical debates is over - it is now time to uphold the very principles that defined this institution: peace, security and respect for international law. International law that is universal and applies to all. Even while seeking ‘African solutions.’ Standing by silently when civilians are killed is not a solution, and certainly not an African one.”
Ernest Rwamucyo, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations said that his country “cannot take the blame for the problems that DRC has faced endemically.”
Addressing the press after the Council, the DRC Minister of Foreign Affairs said, “DRC, the country where this is happening, is refusing to engage only on a military level. We are looking for a political solution, and we are committed to it.”
