Latest news with #BintouKeita
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
UN tight-lipped on outcome of talks with Congolese rebels
The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has held talks with Rwanda-backed rebels about protecting civilians in areas under their control in the east. Bintou Keita, the UN secretary general's special representative, said the rebels spoke of wanting a peaceful solution to the crisis, which escalated in January with their capture of the major city of Goma. She said she had brought "a spirit of listening and exchange" to the discussions in Goma on Friday. Little more detail has been released about any progress made at the summit. But in a short written statement, Ms Kieta said it formed part of ongoing "joint efforts begun several months ago for the benefit of the population", and that it came at a critical moment. Photos released from the meeting showed Ms Keita boarding a helicopter towards the eastern warzone for the summit, and also of her team sat across from leaders of the Congo River Alliance - which includes the M23 rebel group. These were not the UN-led first talks since the takeover of Goma, but they are the highest profile. Earlier this year the UN peacekeeping force, known as Monusco, was unable to stop the rebel group advancing and seizing large swathes of territory from the Congolese army. M23 rebels attacked some Monusco peacekeepers. Since the start of this year, the M23 has made major advances in the mineral-rich east, including taking Goma in January. The conflict has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians in the last few months, with thousands of people killed. Airports in the cities of Goma and Kivumu remain closed and livelihoods have been disrupted, with many civil servants and other workers not receiving their pay. On Friday, almost 250 South African soldiers who were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo arrived back home as the first part of a phased withdrawal from the eastern warzone. They had been part of a force sent by the southern African bloc (Sadc) to assist the Congolese army, but 20 of its soldiers were later killed during an M23 advance which prompted the decision to leave. At a meeting on Saturday, Monusco said its leader Ms Keita met a top Sadc commander in a show of mutual appreciation for the "support and solidarity" they had shown each other "in these recent, difficult months". Additional reporting by Emery Makumeno, Samba Cyzuzo and Cecilia Macaulay What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? Ex-DR Congo president returns from self-imposed exile, party says Rare antelope captured on camera as experts say under 100 exist Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
UN tight-lipped on outcome of talks with Congolese rebels
The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has held talks with Rwanda-backed rebels about protecting civilians in areas under their control in the east. Bintou Keita, the UN secretary general's special representative, said the rebels spoke of wanting a peaceful solution to the crisis, which escalated in January with their capture of the major city of Goma. She said she had brought "a spirit of listening and exchange" to the discussions in Goma on Friday. Little more detail has been released about any progress made at the summit. But in a short written statement, Ms Kieta said it formed part of ongoing "joint efforts begun several months ago for the benefit of the population", and that it came at a critical moment. Photos released from the meeting showed Ms Keita boarding a helicopter towards the eastern warzone for the summit, and also of her team sat across from leaders of the Congo River Alliance - which includes the M23 rebel group. These were not the UN-led first talks since the takeover of Goma, but they are the highest profile. Earlier this year the UN peacekeeping force, known as Monusco, was unable to stop the rebel group advancing and seizing large swathes of territory from the Congolese army. M23 rebels attacked some Monusco peacekeepers. Since the start of this year, the M23 has made major advances in the mineral-rich east, including taking Goma in January. The conflict has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians in the last few months, with thousands of people killed. Airports in the cities of Goma and Kivumu remain closed and livelihoods have been disrupted, with many civil servants and other workers not receiving their pay. On Friday, almost 250 South African soldiers who were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo arrived back home as the first part of a phased withdrawal from the eastern warzone. They had been part of a force sent by the southern African bloc (Sadc) to assist the Congolese army, but 20 of its soldiers were later killed during an M23 advance which prompted the decision to leave. At a meeting on Saturday, Monusco said its leader Ms Keita met a top Sadc commander in a show of mutual appreciation for the "support and solidarity" they had shown each other "in these recent, difficult months". Additional reporting by Emery Makumeno, Samba Cyzuzo and Cecilia Macaulay What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? Ex-DR Congo president returns from self-imposed exile, party says Rare antelope captured on camera as experts say under 100 exist Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
18 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
M23 summit: UN tight-lipped on outcome of talks with Congolese rebels
The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has held talks with Rwanda-backed rebels about protecting civilians in areas under their control in the Keita, the UN secretary general's special representative, said the rebels spoke of wanting a peaceful solution to the crisis, which escalated in January with their capture of the major city of said she had brought "a spirit of listening and exchange" to the discussions in Goma on more detail has been released about any progress made at the summit. But in a short written statement, Ms Kieta said it formed part of ongoing "joint efforts begun several months ago for the benefit of the population", and that it came at a critical released from the meeting showed Ms Keita boarding a helicopter towards the eastern warzone for the summit, and also of her team sat across from leaders of the Congo River Alliance - which includes the M23 rebel were not the UN-led first talks since the takeover of Goma, but they are the highest this year the UN peacekeeping force, known as Monusco, was unable to stop the rebel group advancing and seizing large swathes of territory from the Congolese army. M23 rebels attacked some Monusco the start of this year, the M23 has made major advances in the mineral-rich east, including taking Goma in conflict has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians in the last few months, with thousands of people in the cities of Goma and Kivumu remain closed and livelihoods have been disrupted, with many civil servants and other workers not receiving their Friday, almost 250 South African soldiers who were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo arrived back home as the first part of a phased withdrawal from the eastern had been part of a force sent by the southern African bloc (Sadc) to assist the Congolese army, but 20 of its soldiers were later killed during an M23 advance which prompted the decision to a meeting on Saturday, Monusco said its leader Ms Keita met a top Sadc commander in a show of mutual appreciation for the "support and solidarity" they had shown each other "in these recent, difficult months". Additional reporting by Emery Makumeno, Samba Cyzuzo and Cecilia Macaulay You may also be interested in: What's the fighting in DR Congo all about?Ex-DR Congo president returns from self-imposed exile, party saysRare antelope captured on camera as experts say under 100 exist Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
UN peacekeeping chief in Congo meets M23 leaders in first visit to rebel-held city
GOMA, Congo (AP) — The head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo met with leaders of the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 on Friday in Goma, in her first visit to the eastern city of Goma since its capture by the insurgents. The meeting included discussions on the mandate of the peacekeeping mission known as MONUSCO, especially on the protection of civilians, the mission said on X. Mission head Bintou Keita met with Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance that includes M23, and other representatives. The rebel leaders "expressed their willingness to find a peaceful solution to the crisis,' Keita said. The decades-long conflict in eastern Congo escalated in January, when the Rwanda-backed M23 advanced and seized the strategic city of Goma in North Kivu province, followed by Bukavu in February. Despite Congo's army and M23 having agreed to work toward a truce in April, fighting between the two sides continues. The meeting on Friday came as the rebels have recently been accused of committing possible war crimes in the territories they control. In May, Amnesty International said the rebels killed, tortured and forcibly disappeared civilian detainees in Goma and Bukavu. M23 is one of about 100 armed groups that have been vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo near the border with Rwanda, in a conflict that has created one of the world's most significant humanitarian crises. More than 7 million people have been displaced, including 100,000 who fled homes this year. The rebels are supported by about 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to U.N. experts, and at times have vowed to march as far as Congo's capital, Kinshasa, about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to the east. The MONUSCO force arrived in Congo in 2010 after taking over from an earlier U.N. peacekeeping mission to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel and to support the Congolese government in its stabilization and peace consolidation efforts. However, frustrated Congolese have said that no one is protecting them from rebel attacks, leading to protests against the U.N. mission and others that have at times turned deadly. In 2023, at Congo's request, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to draw down the peacekeeping force and gradually hand over its security responsibilities to Congo's government. Last year, in the first stage of a planned full withdrawal, MONUSCO forces left the province of South Kivu. The head of MONUSCO's visit to Goma sparked mixed reactions among local residents of Goma. 'She's here to carry out interventions where insecurity reigns in the country, and that's why, in my opinion, her presence in the city of Goma will change many things," Abiba Kasole, a student in the city, told The Associated Press. 'What we think of MONUSCO, since it has been here with us, is that we live a miserable life, because they say they are here to help bring peace, and the peace they're supposed to bring—we don't see it," he said.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
UN peacekeeping chief in Congo meets M23 leaders in first visit to rebel-held city
The head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo met with leaders of the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 on Friday in Goma, in her first visit to the eastern city of Goma since its capture by the insurgents. The meeting included discussions on the mandate of the peacekeeping mission known as MONUSCO, especially on the protection of civilians, the mission said on X. Mission head Bintou Keita met with Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance that includes M23, and other representatives. The rebel leaders "expressed their willingness to find a peaceful solution to the crisis,' Keita said. The decades-long conflict in eastern Congo escalated in January, when the Rwanda-backed M23 advanced and seized the strategic city of Goma in North Kivu province, followed by Bukavu in February. Despite Congo's army and M23 having agreed to work toward a truce in April, fighting between the two sides continues. The meeting on Friday came as the rebels have recently been accused of committing possible war crimes in the territories they control. In May, Amnesty International said the rebels killed, tortured and forcibly disappeared civilian detainees in Goma and Bukavu. M23 is one of about 100 armed groups that have been vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo near the border with Rwanda, in a conflict that has created one of the world's most significant humanitarian crises. More than 7 million people have been displaced, including 100,000 who fled homes this year. The rebels are supported by about 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to U.N. experts, and at times have vowed to march as far as Congo's capital, Kinshasa, about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to the east. The MONUSCO force arrived in Congo in 2010 after taking over from an earlier U.N. peacekeeping mission to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel and to support the Congolese government in its stabilization and peace consolidation efforts. However, frustrated Congolese have said that no one is protecting them from rebel attacks, leading to protests against the U.N. mission and others that have at times turned deadly. In 2023, at Congo's request, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to draw down the peacekeeping force and gradually hand over its security responsibilities to Congo's government. Last year, in the first stage of a planned full withdrawal, MONUSCO forces left the province of South Kivu. The head of MONUSCO's visit to Goma sparked mixed reactions among local residents of Goma. 'She's here to carry out interventions where insecurity reigns in the country, and that's why, in my opinion, her presence in the city of Goma will change many things," Abiba Kasole, a student in the city, told The Associated Press. Another resident, Muguiko David, was less hopeful about the prospects of Keita's visit bringing peace. 'What we think of MONUSCO, since it has been here with us, is that we live a miserable life, because they say they are here to help bring peace, and the peace they're supposed to bring—we don't see it," he said.
