Lilongwe, Feb 7 (IANS) Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered Defence Force Commander Paul Valentino Phiri to begin preparations for the withdrawal of Malawian troops from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The Malawian troops are part of a Southern African Development Community mission to help the DRC government fight rebels in the east.
A brief online statement made public said the President made the decision “to honour the declaration of a ceasefire by the warring parties in the DRC and to pave the way for the planned negotiations towards a lasting peace that will bring stability to the Southern African Development Community region”, Xinhua news agency reported.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also urged for more efforts to end the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
During a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Guterres described the situation in DRC as “deeply concerning.”
Fighting between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group and Congolese government forces escalated in January. The rebels claimed they had taken control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and a key regional hub, before heading south toward Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.
The conflict in the eastern region “is having an enormous human toll,” with thousands of people killed, and hundreds of thousands forced from their homes in the eastern country, he said.
The humanitarian situation in and around Goma is perilous, Guterres said. “Meanwhile, the conflict continues to rage in South Kivu and risks are engulfing the entire region.”
“My message is clear: Silence the guns. Stop the escalation. Respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Uphold international human rights law and international humanitarian law,” Guterres said.
Highlighting there is no military solution to the crisis, the UN chief said, “It is time for mediation. It is time to end this crisis. It is time for peace.”
He urged all players, including neighbouring countries, subregional organisations, the African Union and the United Nations, to play an active and constructive role toward an end of the conflict.
Guterres made the appeal for peace ahead of the African Union summit on the DRC situation in Addis Ababa, which he is expected to take part in next week.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that more than 900 people had been killed, with nearly 3,000 injured.
Thousands have been displaced, many fleeing to neighbouring Rwanda, including staff from international organisations such as the UN and the World Bank.
The M23 declared a unilateral ceasefire after fighting the Congolese army for the control of Goma.
–IANS
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