Un Security Council To Vote On M23 Rebel Ceasefire In Drc

The United Nations UN Security Council will vote on a draft resolution calling for the M23 rebels to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw from all occupied areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC.

The draft resolution also calls on the Rwanda Defence Force to stop supporting M23 and withdraw from DRC territory without preconditions.

It further expresses a readiness to consider additional measures against those contributing to the continuation of the conflict. The vote is scheduled for just after 10:30 p.m. South African time.

The draft resolution states that M23 must immediately cease hostilities, withdraw from Goma and Bukavu in North and South Kivu, and fully reverse the establishment of illegitimate parallel administrations in the DRC territory.

It strongly urges the DRC and Rwanda to return to diplomatic talks without preconditions to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict.