A Chinese envoy on Monday expressed concern over instability caused by armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
“We are concerned about the persistent threat posed by armed groups to the stability in the eastern DRC,” said Dai Bing, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. “China urges the armed groups to immediately stop their violent activities, withdraw from the occupied areas, and join the demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration process.”
China commends the DRC, Uganda, and Burundi for their joint operations to address common threats. China notes the efforts made by the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community, and Angola to maintain security in eastern DRC and hopes that relevant operations will be better coordinated to effectively curb further deterioration of the situation, he told the UN Security Council.
The DRC’s general elections at the end of the year bear on national development and stability. China supports the DRC government in advancing work in such areas as electoral legislation and voter registration, and expects all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation to ensure the smooth holding of the elections, he said.
The DRC still faces many difficulties and challenges in electoral preparation. China calls on the international community and the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC to provide more logistic and financial support on the basis of respect for the DRC’s sovereignty and ownership, said the Chinese envoy.
Peace and stability in eastern DRC bears on the overall security in the Great Lakes region. China supports regional countries in respecting each other’s concerns and resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, said Dai.
China has consistently supported the DRC in its efforts to maintain peace and stability and promote development and revitalization. Currently, the DRC is at a critical juncture in its political and peace processes. The international community should provide more support and assistance, he said.
CREDIT: Xinhua
