United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for mediation in the eastern Congo crisis on Thursday (February 6) ahead of two meetings to address the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group’s offensive across the region.
"Silence the guns. Stop the escalation," said Guterres. "Respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo."
Fighting over the rich-in-minerals region between M23 and the Congolese government escalated in January.
Current estimates indicate that at least 2,800 people died due to recent fighting in the city of Goma, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
"Let us all act together for peace," said Guterres.
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