The head of UN peacekeeping has called for an urgent end to hostilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as tensions between the March 23 Movement (M23) and the DRC government escalate, resulting in several civilian fatalities and significant displacement.

In a special interview with China Central Television in New York, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix expressed serious concerns about the escalating violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, emphasising the potential for increased instability in the region as well as the country’s severe humanitarian crisis.

Recent months have seen a surge in fighting between the DRC government and M23 forces, with the latter launching significant offensives and capturing substantial territories in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.

Additionally, the Congo River Alliance, a political-military faction allied with the M23, has set up a parallel provincial administration in these areas.

Lacroix noted that while the M23’s offensive may be proceeding at a slower pace, it still poses a risk of escalating violence and instability in the DRC and the surrounding region, potentially leading to a broader conflict.

He stressed the urgent need to prevent such outcomes, as the humanitarian impact has already been severe.

When questioned about the possibility of achieving peace, Lacroix reaffirmed the U.N. mission’s commitment to civilian protection, stating that despite the difficult circumstances, they will continue to fulfill their mandate.

He highlighted that every day, MONUSCO (the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) plays a crucial role in safeguarding hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Lacroix highlighted the positive aspect of ongoing diplomatic initiatives.

He noted that regional organizations like the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) are actively participating in peace talks, which is a hopeful sign for the situation.

Recently, the U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 2773, which calls for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of foreign military forces from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

This resolution stresses the importance of both the DRC and Rwanda meeting their obligations under the Luanda Process and resolving the conflict through diplomatic channels.

Lacroix emphasized that achieving a ceasefire is the first crucial step, urging that all possible diplomatic efforts should be made to reach this objective.

He mentioned that MONUSCO is prepared to monitor the ceasefire’s implementation and has plans in place for this role.

He underscored the urgency of the situation, warning that delays could lead to a significant worsening of the conflict.

The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have conquered important regions in Congo’s mineral-rich east, said on Monday that they will withdraw from peace negotiations with the Congolese government, which were slated for this week.

The organisation cited international sanctions imposed by the European Union on its members as a key impediment to the talks.

M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka also blamed continuing military offensives by Congo’s army for hindering the discussions.

The rebels deemed the talks, scheduled for Tuesday in Luanda, Angola, ” impracticable.” Despite this, Congo’s government, initially rejecting talks with M23, confirmed it would still participate.

According to government spokesperson Tina Salama, a Congolese delegation was already in Luanda.

The conflict in eastern Congo intensified in January when M23 seized the strategic city of Goma, followed by Bukavu in February. Angola, which has mediated the conflict, had planned direct peace talks between Congo and M23. However, peace talks between Congo and Rwanda were canceled in December after Rwanda demanded direct dialogue between Congo and M23, which Congo rejected.

The M23 is one of many armed groups in the region, where competition over mineral resources has contributed to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, displacing over 7 million people.

The rebels, backed by 4,000 Rwandan troops, have at times threatened to advance as far as Congo’s capital, Kinshasa.

The U.N. Human Rights Council is investigating allegations of atrocities by both sides, including rape and summary executions. Tensions have also risen internationally, with the European Union imposing sanctions on several Rwandan and Congolese nationals linked to the conflict, including M23 leaders and Rwanda’s gold refinery.

Rwanda has cut diplomatic ties with Belgium, accusing it of trying to destabilize the country, following Belgium’s suspension of development aid. The U.S. has expressed interest in a mining partnership with Congo, with discussions already underway. U.S. special envoy Rep. Ronny Jackson met with President Tshisekedi to explore security and economic collaborations, emphasizing the need for peace to attract foreign investment.

A potential new technology might benefit survivors of sexual assault in South Sudan, but it is not without obstacles.

After being gang-raped by armed men while collecting firewood, a 28-year-old attempted but failed to seek aid.

Some clinics were closed, others urged her to return later, and she didn’t have enough money to visit a hospital.

Five months after the attack, she lay on a mat in a displacement camp in South Sudan’s capital, massaging her large tummy.

“I felt like I wasn’t heard… and now I’m pregnant,” she said.

The Associated Press does not identify people who have been raped.

Sexual assault is a constant risk for many women in South Sudan.

Now, one aid group is trying to bridge the gap with technology, to find and help survivors more quickly.

But it’s not easy in a country with low connectivity, high illiteracy and wariness about how information is used.

Five months ago, an Israeli organization in South Sudan piloted a chatbot it created on WhatsApp.

It prompts questions for its staff to ask survivors of sexual assault to anonymously share their experiences.

The information is then put into the phone, and the bot immediately notifies a social worker when there’s a case, providing help to the person within hours.

IsraAID said the technology improves communication.

Papers can get misplaced and information can go missing.

When colleagues document an incident, she’s notified by phone and told what type of case it is.

Tech experts said technology can reduce human error and manual file keeping, but organizations need to ensure data privacy.

IsraAID said its data is encrypted and anonymized. It automatically deletes from staffers’ phones. In the chatbot’s first three months in late 2024, it was used to report 135 cases.

When the 28-year-old was raped, she knew she had just a few days to take medicine to help prevent disease and pregnancy, she said.

One aid group she approached scribbled her information on a piece of paper and told her to return later to speak with a social worker.

When she did, they said they were busy. After 72 hours, she assumed it was pointless. Weeks later, she found she was pregnant.

IsraAID found her while doing door-to-door visits in her area. At first, she was afraid to let them put her information into their phone, worried it would be broadcast on social media. But she felt more comfortable knowing the phones were not personal devices, thinking she could hold the organization accountable if there were problems.

She’s one of tens of thousands of people still living in displacement sites in the capital, Juba, despite a peace deal ending civil war in 2018. Some are afraid to leave or have no homes to return to.

The fear of rape remains for women who leave the camps for firewood or other needs.

Some told the AP about being sexually assaulted.

They said there are few services in the camp because of reduced assistance by international aid groups and scant government investment in health.

Many can’t afford taxis to a hospital in town.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to freeze USAID funding during a 90-day review period is exacerbating the challenges.

Aid groups have closed some services including psychological support for women, affecting tens of thousands of people.

Technology isn’t widely used by aid groups focused on gender-based violence in South Sudan.

Some organizations say that, based on survivors’ feedback, the ideal app would allow people to get help remotely.

The stigma surrounding sexual assault further complicates efforts to get help in South Sudan.

It’s especially hard for young girls who need to get permission to leave their homes, according to a gender-based violence lead at the International Rescue Committee.

But South Sudan has one of the lowest rates of mobile access and connectivity in the world, with less than 25% of market penetration, according to a report by GSMA, a global network of mobile operators.

People with phones don’t always have internet access, and many are illiterate.

Some survivors of sexual assault say they just want to be heard, whether by phone or in person.

One 45-year-old man, a father of 11, said it took years to seek help after being raped by his wife after he refused to have sex and said he didn’t want more children they couldn’t afford to support.

It took multiple visits by aid workers to his displacement site in Juba before he felt comfortable speaking out.