United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix has issued a stark warning to the UN Security Council, declaring that a renewed military offensive by the Congo River Alliance-March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) in South Kivu province has dramatically escalated regional tensions. Lacroix emphasized that this development has “rekindled the specter of a regional conflagration with incalculable consequences” for Central Africa.
The UN peacekeeping chief expressed grave concerns about the deteriorating security situation, noting that rebel advancements are creating serious risks of national fragmentation within the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is particularly evident in the eastern provinces where insurgent groups have established parallel governing structures challenging state authority.
Complicating the crisis further, Lacroix highlighted the involvement of armed forces and militant groups from neighboring countries, whose direct and indirect participation threatens to expand the conflict beyond DRC’s borders. This external dimension significantly increases the danger of the confrontations spreading throughout the entire Great Lakes Region, potentially destabilizing multiple nations.
The warning comes despite previous diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, including agreements signed in Washington, D.C. between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Notably, the AFC/M23 offensive has already achieved significant territorial gains, capturing the strategic city of Uvira on December 10. Uvira served as the provisional capital of South Kivu province and represents a crucial border hub near Burundi, underscoring the conflict’s transnational implications.