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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 24894, member: 2262"] DR Congo Seeks UN Rights Meeting as M23 Takes Goma. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has requested an urgent United Nations Human Rights Council session after M23 rebels captured the eastern city of Goma. The meeting will convene tomorrow in Geneva amid rising concerns over human rights abuses in the region. The rebel takeover last week has intensified violence in the mineral-rich territory. UN rights officials report widespread violations, including executions, attacks on displacement camps, and sexual violence against civilians. The Red Cross continues to recover bodies from Goma's streets as the humanitarian crisis deepens. Eastern Congo has endured decades of conflict as armed groups vie for control of valuable mineral deposits, including gold and diamonds. The M23's recent territorial gains have prompted UN warnings about potential broader regional conflict. Congolese authorities maintain that Rwanda supports the M23 rebels, an accusation Rwanda repeatedly denies. This dispute has created diplomatic tensions between the neighboring countries. Regional leaders will address the crisis at a joint summit of the Southern African Development Community and East African Community in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda plan to attend, along with the leaders of South Africa, Uganda, and Somalia. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova urged immediate action last Friday. She called for M23 forces to withdraw from occupied areas and pressed for renewed peace talks through existing regional frameworks. "The escalation must not spiral into an interstate conflict," she said. The situation has sparked international concern as displacement grows and civilian casualties mount. Regional mediators face increasing pressure to broker a lasting peace agreement between the warring parties. [/QUOTE]

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