The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns the attacks perpetrated in the villages of Kishi and Bambu in Rutshuru District, North Kivu Province, which happened on 29 and 30 November, by the March 23 Movement, and targeting civilians.
Guterres said that the attacks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have killed at least 131 civilians, including 17 women and 12 children, and injured eight others, according to the preliminary investigations conducted by the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Congo (MONUSCO).
The Secretary-General calls on all parties in the country to facilitate humanitarian access to the affected population and to ensure the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law.
Furthermore, Guterres urges the M23 movement and other armed groups to immediately cease hostilities and disarm without conditions.