Reacting to the announcement that the UN Security Council has authorised the deployment of 3,000 extra troops to reinforce those already on the ground in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Amnesty International said:

“This is a good first step, but it is the implementation that matters. The people of the DRC have waited a long time for this small grain of hope – they urgently need to see those troops on the ground, protecting them from attack.”

“This resolution may have been passed but the situation remains unchanged. We are still receiving reports of killings, rape, and abduction of Children's rights – and we will continue to get those reports until there is effective protection of civilians in practice.

“It is not enough to pass resolutions. States around the world need to make an immediate pledge of troops and equipment – to make a concrete contribution towards protecting the people of the DRC.”