Mr. President,
1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Algeria, Guyana, Somalia and my own country Sierra Leone.
2. We wish to thank Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Mr. Mohamed Javid Abdelmoneim, International President of Medecins Sans Frontieres for their briefings on the situation on the ground.
3. We welcome the participation of Her Excellency Ms. Therese Kayikwanba Wagner, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the representatives of Rwanda and Burundi to this meeting.
4. Over the past three decades, MONUSCO and its predecessor Mission MONUC have been present in the DRC supporting efforts for peace, stabilization, and the protection of civilians in a context marked by recurring armed conflicts, complex humanitarian challenges, and a major political transition. The A3+ reiterates our deep appreciation to the Mission for its continued service and dedication to the Congolese people under extraordinarily challenging circumstances. Yet, as we meet today, peace and stability in the DRC remain volatile despite sustained regional and international diplomatic efforts.
5. We would also like to express our profound appreciation to Ms. Bintou Keita, former SRSG in the DRC and Head of MONUSCO, for her leadership and commitment to advancing peace and stability in the DRC. Her dedicated service to the Congolese people, particularly her efforts to safeguard and support civilians has been invaluable.
Mr. President,
6. The recent developments in eastern DRC, most notably the fall of Uvira City, the last major settlement in South Kivu, to the M23 rebels, is profoundly alarming. Even more alarming is the worsening humanitarian situationfor the civilian population who have been displaced, fleeing across the borders in search of safety, and potentially creating pressures for receiving countries.We underscore the importance of supporting these countries as they serve as safe havens for those fleeing the violence in the DRC.
7. The A3+ remains gravely alarmed by the humanitarian situation in the DRC which has long been among the world’s most severe. The renewed offensive in South Kivu risks overwhelming an already overstretched and critically underfunded humanitarian system. With over 5.7 million people internally displaced and an estimated 24.8 million facing food insecurity, amidst acute security and access constraints, humanitarian personnel cannot sustain operations under continued hostilities in South Kivu.
8. Reports from international humanitarian organizations on the ground are also alarming. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), nearly 200,000 people have been displaced, with women and children bearing the greatest burden of this renewed violence. It is thusabsolutely necessary for this Council to act decisively to halt the escalation of the conflict in eastern DRC.
9. In view of this, we must remind all parties to the conflict of their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law to protect civilians during conflict.
Mr. President,
10. The A3+ further reiterates that the solution to this conflict remains fundamentally political. We were therefore encouraged by last week’s signing of the “Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity” by Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame, witnessed byAfrican leaders, including H.E. João Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union (AU); H.E. Faure Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of Togo and the African Union appointed Mediator of the crisis between the DRC and Rwanda; and H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
11. As underscored by the AU Chairperson, “the Washington Accords represents an important moment to put an end to a conflict that has lasted for more than three decades, a conflict between brothers and neighboring countries who, for various reasons, have been fighting one another over the years with heavy consequences both for the population and economies of their respective countries.”
12. The A3+ fully echoes these sentiments and reaffirms its strong support for the leadership and mediation efforts of African stakeholders.
13. We therefore urge all parties to honor their recent commitments undertaken in Doha and Washington D.C, and to work in good faith towards lasting peace, stability and prosperity throughout the Great Lakes region.
Mr. President,
14. The renewed offensive in South Kivu comes at a time when the Council is discussing the future of the presence of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in DRC. In light of the current realities on the ground, discussion on MONUSCO’s future must be approached with the utmost care and with the interests of the people of the Great Lakes region at the center. The safety of their lives and livelihoods and enabling their prosperity, must guide our decision on the renewal and the orientation of the new MONUSCO mandate.
15. After decades of conflict, a “business as usual” approach is no longer tenable. A genuine paradigm shift is needed, one that reimagines the United Nations presence in ways that reinforce African-led proposalsand that of the Doha and Washington processes.
16. Harmonizing these proposals will require sincere engagement and understanding of African perspectives, moving beyond symbolic acknowledgment toward meaningful inclusion of African solutions.
Mr. President,
17. To conclude, the A3+ is of the view that in renewing the mandate of MONUSCO the Mission must be provided with the necessary operational flexibility tosupport implementation of the mandate, not only in terms of protecting civilians, but where appropriate deployment and targeted return to critical areas currently lacking a permanent presence of governmental authority. Additionally, the mandate should strengthen MONUSCO’s role in supporting transitional justice and accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity
18. The A3+ stands firmly in solidarity with the Congolese people, and all affected communities in the region. With the resilience and ingenuity of the Congolese people, supported by regional mechanisms and international efforts, we believe that a sustained solution to this conflict is within reach. The A3+ will continue to offer its unwavering support toward realizing these aspirations.
I thank you.