M23 rebels claim control of Goma, DR Congo. The UN condemns the “flagrant disregard” for the country’s sovereignty.

What You Need to Know:

• M23 Rebels Capture Goma: M23 rebels have claimed control of the key city of Goma in eastern DR Congo, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in the region.
• UN Condemnation: The UN Security Council has strongly condemned the “flagrant disregard” for DR Congo’s sovereignty, calling for an immediate halt to the violence and respect for the nation’s territorial integrity.
• Summit Announcement: Kenya has announced that DR Congo and Rwanda have agreed to attend a summit to discuss the escalating crisis and potential paths to peace.
• Casualties Among Peacekeepers: Soldiers from South Africa, Malawi, and Uruguay have been killed in the fierce fighting, highlighting the risks faced by international peacekeeping forces in the region.
• Closing of Blog Update: This blog update has now closed. For more details and developments on the story from Monday, January 27, 2025, click here.
• Ongoing Situation: M23 rebels continue their advance in eastern DR Congo, and the international community remains on high alert as the conflict intensifies.

France Condemns M23 Offensive in East Congo

France has expressed its strong condemnation of the M23 rebel group’s offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reiterated Paris’ solidarity with the Congolese government in Kinshasa and criticized the ongoing violence that has led to significant casualties.

“France strongly condemns the offensive led by the M23, which is backed by the Rwandan armed forces. This offensive has resulted in the deaths of six peacekeepers and the displacement of thousands of civilians. The fighting must stop, and dialogue must resume,” Barrot stated as he arrived at the Council of European Foreign Ministers in Brussels.

The French condemnation follows the M23 rebels’ claim of capturing the strategic city of Goma in eastern Congo. This development has heightened international concerns over the escalating violence and the humanitarian crisis in the region.

UN Security Council Denounces ‘Flagrant Disregard’ for Sovereignty in DRC

The UN Security Council has issued a strong condemnation of the M23 rebel group’s ongoing offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), demanding an immediate halt to their advance towards Goma. The Council also called for the withdrawal of “external forces” supporting the rebels.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Security Council condemned the “flagrant disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC” and expressed deep concern over the continued escalation of violence in the region.

Furthermore, the Council raised alarms over the use of GPS jamming and spoofing activities that are allegedly being carried out to support M23 operations in North Kivu. These tactics have added to the complexity of the conflict, with the international body urging all involved parties to respect the DRC’s sovereignty and work toward de-escalation.

M23 Claims Control of Goma

M23 rebels have claimed to have taken control of the strategic eastern city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) early on Monday.

The rebels made the announcement just moments before a 48-hour deadline they had set for the Congolese army to disarm and surrender expired. In their statement, M23 urged residents of Goma to remain calm and instructed Congolese forces to gather at the central stadium.

The claims of the city’s capture have not been independently verified, and the situation remains fluid. The capture of Goma would mark a significant escalation in the conflict between the M23 rebels and the DRC government forces.

Kenya Announces Extraordinary Summit Over Crisis

Kenya has announced that an extraordinary summit will be held within the next two days to address the escalating crisis in eastern DR Congo. The summit will involve the presidents of DR Congo and Rwanda, who have both agreed to attend.

Kenyan President William Ruto expressed gratitude to DR Congo’s President Etienne Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame for their commitment to participate in the East African Community (EAC) regional bloc’s summit.

The summit aims to “deliberate on this crisis and chart a way forward,” according to President Ruto. The upcoming talks are seen as a critical step in resolving the ongoing conflict and fostering dialogue between the nations involved.

Courtesy: Bloomberg Television

References

• ^ “Official Languages”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
• ^ “Chapter I: Purposes and Principles”. United Nations Charter. United Nations. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
• ^ “International Organization”. National Geographic Society. 23 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
• ^ “‘The League is Dead. Long Live the United Nations.'”. National WW2 Museum New Orleans. 19 April 2021. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
• ^ “What We Do”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b “UN welcomes South Sudan as 193rd Member State”. UN News Centre. 28 June 2006. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b “Our history”. United Nations Peacekeeping. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
• ^ “Decolonization”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
• ^ “Red Cross-History-Objective”. International Committee of the Red Cross. 11 September 2017. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
• ^ “League of Nations instituted”. history.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
• ^ “League of Nations and Manchuria invasion”. www.johndclare.net. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
• ^ Nault, Derrick M., ‘Haile Selassie, the League of Nations, and Human Rights Diplomacy’, Africa and the Shaping of International Human Rights (Oxford, 2020; online edn, Oxford Academic, 21 January 2021), https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198859628.003.0004,
• ^ “Why the League failed”. johndclare.net. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
• ^ United Nations, Dept of Public Information (1986). Everyone’s United Nations. UN. p. 5. ISBN 978-92-1-100273-7. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
• ^ Tandon, Mahesh Prasad; Tandon, Rajesh (1989). Public International Law. Allahabad Law Agency. p. 421. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
• ^ Lauren, Paul Gordon (2011). The Evolution of International Human Rights: Visions Seen. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-0-8122-2138-1. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
• ^ “Inter-Allied Council Statement on the Principles of the Atlantic Charter”. The Avalon Project. Lillian Goldman Law Library. 24 September 1941. Archived from the original on 3 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
• ^ “Press Conference On Franklin Delano Roosevelt Disability Award”. UN Press. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
• ^ “Without Global Cooperation Between Great And Small Alike, No Progress And No Peace Can Last Forever, Secretary-General States”. UN Press. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
• ^ Ward, Geoffrey C.; Burns, Ken (2014). “Nothing to Conceal”. The Roosevelts: An Intimate History. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 397. ISBN 978-0-385-35306-9. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
• ^ “United Nations”. Wordorigins.org. 3 February 2007. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
• ^ Roll, David (2013). The Hopkins Touch: Harry Hopkins and the Forging of the Alliance to Defeat Hitler. Oxford University Press USA. pp. 172–175. ISBN 978-0-19-989195-5.
• ^ Sherwood 1948, pp. 447–453.
• ^ Urquhart, Brian (16 July 1998). “Looking for the Sheriff”. New York Review of Books. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2007.
• ^ “1942: Declaration of The United Nations”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 8 November 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
• ^ Schlesinger 2003.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b Bohlen, C.E. (1973). Witness to History, 1929–1969. New York: Norton. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-393-07476-5.
• ^ Video: Allies Study Post-War Security Etc. (1944). Universal Newsreel. 1944. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
• ^ “Milestones 1941–1950: Dumbarton Oaks Conference”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
• ^ Osmańczyk 2004, p. 2445.
• ^ “Charter of the United Nations”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
• ^ “History of the United Nations”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
• ^ “San Francisco – the birthplace of the United Nations”. San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
• ^ “1945: The San Francisco Conference”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
• ^ Miller, Russell A.; Bratspies, Rebecca M., eds. (2008). Progress in International Law. Leiden, the Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 837.
• ^ “South Africa: Time Running Out”, The Study Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Southern Africa, University of California Press, p. 31, 1981, ISBN 978-0-520-04547-7
• ^ Jump up to:^{a b c d e} “Milestones 1941–1950”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
• ^ “Charter of the United Nations and Statue of the International Court of Justice” (PDF). San Francisco, United States: Treaty Section, United Nations Office of Legal Affairs. 1945. pp. 6, 20, 31. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
• ^ Grant 2009, pp. 25–26.
• ^ “Poland and the United Nations”. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
• ^ Roberts, John Morris (1993). History of the world. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 778. ISBN 978-0-19-521043-9. OCLC 28378422.
• ^ Meisler 1995, p. 35.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 58–59.
• ^ “UN Milestones Korean War”. United Nations. 4 August 2015. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
• ^ Admin, D. S. U. (31 October 2024). “General Assembly”. Question of Palestine. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b “Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem” (PDF). INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (icj-cij.org).
• ^ “Nov. 29, 1947 | U.N. Partitions Palestine, Allowing for Creation of Israel”. The Learning Network. 29 November 2011. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 51–54.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b “UN Milestones 1951–1960”. United Nations. 6 August 2015. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 114.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 115–134.
• ^ Meisler 1995, p. 76.
• ^ Kennedy 2007, p. 60.
• ^ Fasulo 2004, pp. 17, 20.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 127–128, 134.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 156–157.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 195–197.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 208–210.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 204–226, 213, 220–221.
• ^ “A/RES/3379 (XXX) of 10 November 1975”. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 167–168, 224–225.
• ^ Matanock, Aila M. (2020). “How International Actors Help Enforce Domestic Deals”. Annual Review of Political Science. 23 (1): 357–383. doi:10.1146/annurev-polisci-050718-033504. ISSN 1094-2939.
• ^ “Is China contributing to the United Nations’ mission?”. CSIS China Power. 7 March 2016. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
• ^ Fasulo 2004, p. 43.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b Meisler 1995, p. 334.
• ^ Renner, Michael. “Peacekeeping Operations Expenditures: 1947–2005” (PDF). Global Policy Forum. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 252–256.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 264–277.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 226–227.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 234–237.
• ^ Lewis, Paul (6 August 1996). “Jean Gerard, 58, Reagan Envoy Who Led U.S. to Leave Unesco”. New York Times. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 285–286.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b “Are UN reforms just reshuffling of the deck?”. New Straits Times. 16 January 1998. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
• ^ Kennedy 2007, pp. 66–67.
• ^ For quotation “worldwide ridicule”, see Meisler 1995, p. 293; for a description of UN missions in Somalia and Bosnia, see Meisler 1995, pp. 312–329.
• ^ Kennedy 2007, p. 104.
• ^ Kennedy 2007, pp. 110–111.
• ^ Kennedy 2007, p. 111.
• ^ Smith-Spark, Laura (8 October 2013). “Syria: Chemical weapons team faces many dangers, says UN chief Ban”. CNN. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
• ^ “UN failed during final days of Lankan ethnic war: Ban Ki-moon”. FirstPost. Press Trust of India. 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
• ^ “UN Milestones 2001–2010”. United Nations. 21 August 2015. Archived from the original on 6 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
• ^ “UN summit agenda; The largest gathering of world leaders in history meets in New York to discuss the role of the United Nations in the 21st century”. BBC News. 7 December 2000. Archived from the original on 7 July 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2006.
• ^ “2005 World Summit Outcome” (PDF). United Nations. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b “Sustainable Development Goals”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 2 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
• ^ “Communicating to a global constituency: UN Day in Paris”. United Nations University. 7 November 2011. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
• ^ Falk, Pamela (13 July 2016). “Can U.N. regain trust with an experiment in transparency?”. CBS News. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
• ^ Guterres, António (9 January 2017). “U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres: My Vision for Revitalizing the United Nations”. Newsweek. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
• ^ Tedeneke, Alem (13 June 2019). “World Economic Forum and UN Sign Strategic Partnership Framework”. World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
• ^ Fasulo 2004, pp. 3–4.
• ^ Fasulo 2004, p. 8.
• ^ “United Nations Visitors Centre”. United Nations. 2017. Archived from the original on 6 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
• ^ “United Nations Office at Geneva”. United Nations Office at Geneva. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
• ^ “Welcome to the United Nations Office at Vienna!”. United Nations Office at Vienna. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
• ^ “Welcome to the United Nations Office at Nairobi”. United Nations Office at Nairobi. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
• ^ “General Assembly of the United Nations – Rules of Procedure”. UN Department for General Assembly. Archived from the original on 19 December 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
• ^ “Jerusalem Court: No Immunity for UN Employee for Private Acts—Diplomatic/Consular Law and Sovereign Immunity in Israel”. Diplomaticlaw.com. 23 March 2009. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
• ^ Fasulo 2004, p. 4.
• ^ Fasulo 2004, pp. 4–7.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b Salaries Archived 3 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine, United Nations website
• ^ ILO: Noblemaire principle Archived 14 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Judgement 986, consideration 7, and Judgment 831, Consideration 1.
• ^ The Noblemaire principle Archived 17 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine, ICSC
• ^ Americans Working at the U.N Archived 22 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine, World, The New York Times, 28 September 2009
• ^ “United Nations Charter, Chapter III: Organs”. United Nations. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b Fomerand 2009, pp. 131–133.
• ^ Fasulo 2004, pp. 69–70.
• ^ “Main Organs”. 18 November 2014. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
• ^ “General Assembly of the United Nations: Rules of Procedure: XII – Plenary Meetings”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2013. Decisions of the General Assembly on important questions shall be made by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. These questions shall include: recommendations with respect to the maintenance of international peace and security, the election of the non-permanent members of the Security Council, the election of the members of the Economic and Social Council, the election of members of the Trusteeship Council in accordance with paragraph 1 c of Article 86 of the Charter, the admission of new Members to the United Nations, the suspension of the rights and privileges of membership, the expulsion of Members, questions relating to the operation of the trusteeship system, and budgetary questions.
• ^ Fasulo 2004, pp. 70–73.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b “United Nations Charter: Chapter V”. United Nations. 17 June 2015. Archived from the original on 3 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
• ^ Fasulo 2004, pp. 39–43.
• ^ “Current Members | United Nations Security Council”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
• ^ Fasulo 2004, pp. 40–41.
• ^ “Security Council Presidency in 2017”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
• ^ “Secretariat”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
• ^ Fasulo 2004, p. 21.
• ^ Fomerand 2009, p. 285.
• ^ “United Nations Charter: Chapter XV”. United Nations. 17 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
• ^ Meisler 1995, pp. 31–32.
• ^ Kennedy 2007, pp. 59–62.
• ^ “Appointment Process”. United Nations. 22 April 2015. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
• ^ “Former Secretaries-General”. United Nations. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b “International Court of Justice | Definition, Cases, Purpose, & Facts”. Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
• ^ “The Court”. International Court of Justice. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b Fomerand 2009, p. 183.
• ^ Fasulo 2004, pp. 100–101.
• ^ Jump up to:^a b “Economic and Social Council | UN”. Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.