UN human rights chief demands an immediate stop to explosive weapons use in eastern DR Congo by all armed groups

Summary

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk issued a statement on July 9 demanding that DRC's armed forces and the M23 rebel movement, along with all other armed groups, immediately stop using explosive weapons in populated areas of eastern Congo, particularly in North and South Kivu provinces. Türk said the use of such weapons constituted clear violations of international humanitarian law and called for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers. The call came from Geneva without naming specific commanders or attributing specific incidents. Eastern Congo has been contested between the DRC's armed forces and M23, which analysts and Western governments have linked to Rwanda, since 2021, with civilians caught between the two sides in densely populated areas around Goma and Bukavu.

The split

The UN statement was directed at all parties simultaneously, consistent with diplomatic neutrality, though M23 and the DRC army occupy different legal positions: the DRC army is a state actor with international law obligations, while M23 is a non-state armed group. AllAfrica framed the statement in the context of broader African Union mediation efforts. Arab News reported from Geneva without regional context. On-the-ground coverage from affected communities in North and South Kivu was not present in the crawl feed, a gap consistent with limited independent media access to the active conflict zone.

By the numbers

• 2021, year M23 re-emerged as a major force in eastern Congo after a multi-year dormancy
• North and South Kivu, the primary provinces affected by the current M23 offensive and displacement
• Millions, people displaced in eastern Congo since the conflict intensified

Why it matters

Eastern Congo's ongoing conflict is one of the world's most protracted and deadly, with civilian populations facing explosive weapons, sexual violence, and disease simultaneously. The UN's call reinforces international humanitarian law norms but has no enforcement mechanism without a Security Council mandate, where China and Russia hold vetoes. The M23 advance and Rwanda's alleged backing have repeatedly blocked diplomatic resolution, making accountability statements from Türk's office the primary available tool short of sanctions.

What to watch

• Whether the DRC armed forces or M23 respond to the UN call and reduce explosive weapons use in populated areas
• Progress of African Union and regional mediation talks on a ceasefire framework
• Any Security Council action following the High Commissioner's statement