UN Special Representative Huang Xia met with Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi to discuss ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability in Africa’s Great Lakes region, local media reported on Tuesday.
Huang is currently visiting several countries in the region ahead of a UN Security Council meeting scheduled for April 4 in New York, according to news outlet Actualite.cd. He reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting peace initiatives and reducing tensions in the conflict-affected region.
The upcoming Security Council session will focus on the crisis in eastern Congo, including the implementation of Resolution 2773, adopted on February 21. Discussions will also address long-term solutions for regional stability, as well as the resumption of peace efforts under the Luanda and Nairobi processes.
Huang emphasized that the meeting provides a crucial opportunity to ease tensions and work toward broader, more comprehensive peace strategies.
Meanwhile, the conflict in eastern Congo continues to escalate, with M23 rebels reportedly seizing Nyabiondo city on Sunday. Since December, the group has expanded its territorial control, capturing key provincial cities such as Goma and Bukavu. Fighting since January has resulted in over 8,500 deaths and at least 5,700 injuries, according to Congolese Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba.
The DRC government accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels and deploying forces in the region, allegations that Kigali has repeatedly denied. In response, several nations, including Germany, the US, and the UK, have imposed sanctions on Rwanda over its alleged involvement in the conflict.