The United Nations Security Council released a statement reiterating its condemnation of external support being provided to armed groups which have been destabilising the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ambassador Gert Rosenthal of Guatemala, who currently holds the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of October, demanded that support to the M23 rebel groups cease immediately.

“The Security Council calls upon all countries in the region to condemn the M23, as well as other armed groups, and to cooperate actively with the Congolese authorities in disarming an demobilising the M23 as well as other armed groups an dismantling the M23 administration."

The statement also expressed concern regarding the deteriorating humanitarian crisis and the escalating abuses of human rights, which included summary executions, sexual and gender based violence and large-scale recruitment and use of child soldiers.

The statement went on to demand that perpetrators of such crimes to be apprehended, brought to justice and held accountable for violations of international human rights law.

The statement also highlighted the work of various conflict discussion groups.

“The Security Council take note of the decisions by the International Conference on the Great Lakes region (ICGLR) and the African Union (AU) regarding the deployment of a ‘Neutral International Force’ in eastern DRC and takes note of the ongoing coordination efforts between these organisations and the United Nations to clarify objectives, modalities and means of proposed Force,”