New york: Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary General for Africa, called for an immediate and effective cessation of hostilities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, warning of a deteriorating security situation despite recent diplomatic progress.
According to Bahrain News Agency, in a briefing to the UN Security Council, Pobee expressed regret that parties have not complied with Security Council Resolution 2773, stressing the need to support ongoing peace efforts and exert pressure to ensure implementation.
She noted the surge of violence in Ituri province since July, despite dialogue among armed groups in the city of Aru. Pobee described some developments as encouraging, citing understandings between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda on joint coordination mechanisms under the Washington Agreement and the framework for regional economic integration.