Secretary-General: No military solution to DRC crisis
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Two boys watch out for rebels at Mugunga camp, west of Goma UNHCR/Christian Als
The current insecurity in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo cannot be resolved through military means, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told African leaders meeting in New York on Thursday.
Since April, nearly 300,000 people have fled the region after a group known as the M23 Movement launched a campaign of terror, committing numerous human rights abuses.
Other armed groups have taken advantage of the resulting insecurity.
Mr. Ban said the perpetrators must be brought to justice, and that external support to the M23 must stop.
"The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC is inviolable and must be fully respected by all of the DRC’s neighbours. There is no military solution to this crisis. We must consider concrete options to bring about a peaceful resolution that is based on enhanced dialogue, deepening integration, and regional confidence-building." (Duration: 26″)
Mr. Ban called for increased and sustained support from the country's key partners.
