Fighting between Government forces and the M23 rebel group has flared up again in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after a brief lull, the UN Spokesperson said on Monday.
Stéphane Dujarric told correspondents at the regular press briefing in New York, that during the clashes, two rockets landed close to the UN peacekeeping base in Kimoka, about four kilometres northwest of Sake in North Kivu.
No casualties on the UN side were reported, he said.
The UN mission, MONUSCO, “remains deeply concerned by hostilities in eastern Congo and reiterates its call on the M23 to stop its offensive and to respect the Luanda Roadmap”, he added, referring to the 2022 agreement which sets out the steps needed to forge a lasting peace in eastern DRC.
Its signatories are Angola, the DRC and Rwanda.
Mr. Dujarric said MONUSCO peacekeepers continue their protection efforts in North Kivu, including holding defensive positions to keep civilians safe in Sake and the provincial capital, Goma.
“This, despite coming under fire and being regularly targeted,” he added.
Fighting erupted earlier this month near Sake, driving nearly 144,000 people from their homes, mostly towards Goma.
