Content_paragraphs:  While the majority of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  
  are stable, I remain deeply concerned by continuing violence in parts of No rth Kivu,
  
  South Kivu, and Ituri. I have followed the situation in the Beni area particularly
  
  closely since my visit there in September 2019 and am disturbed by the continuing
  
  ability of ADF to commit appalling acts of violence against civilians. The elimination
  
  of the threat posed by armed groups will require a comprehensive approach at the
  
  national and regional levels. In this regard, I welcome Mr. Tshisekedi’s commitment
  
  to cooperating more closely with MONUSCO and reaffirm the readiness of the
  
  Mission to work with the Government to develop a comprehensive strategy to jointly
  
  address ADF and other armed groups. I commend the determination of the Congolese
  
  security forces in the conduct of their operations against armed groups, which
  
  MONUSCO will continue to support, including through targeted offensive operations,
  
  while also working with the armed forces to help to reduce the impact of such
  
  operations on the civilian population. Given the worrying increase in sexual and
  
  gender-based violence reported for 2019, it is crucial that such measures ensure the
  
  protection of women and girls from all potential predators, including those within the
  
  armed forces and the police.