New York, 15 April 2026 – Speaking at the 10136th meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the situation in the Great Lakes region, the Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Nations, Ambassador Zénon Mukongo Ngay, firmly reaffirmed the DRC’s position in the face of the continuing aggression in its eastern part.
Speaking in his national capacity, following the A3 statement, Ambassador Zénon Mukongo Ngay stressed the complementary nature of the diplomatic initiatives undertaken at the regional and international levels. He recalled that their common point of convergence remains the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular resolutions 2773 and 2808, which condemn the M23 offensive, demand an immediate cessation of hostilities, require the withdrawal of M23, and call on Rwanda to end its support for this armed movement.
The Permanent Representative of the DRC noted that, despite the multiplication of diplomatic efforts, the security situation on the ground remains deeply worrying. He denounced the persistence of hostilities in eastern DRC, the territorial expansion of AFC/M23 with the support of Rwandan forces, and the growing threat this dynamic poses not only to the DRC but also to regional stability, particularly to Burundi.
Ambassador Zénon Mukongo Ngay also stressed the dramatic human cost of this crisis. He recalled that millions of Congolese have been displaced, most of them women and girls, who are exposed to extreme violence, particularly in mining areas. He condemned the ongoing violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, including sexual violence, child recruitment, and attacks against humanitarian personnel and peacekeepers.
Reaffirming that the position of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has never changed, he demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory, in accordance with resolution 2773 unanimously adopted by the Security Council. He also called for an end to all destabilizing activities carried out in the region through armed groups and other proxies.
The DRC further advocated maintaining maximum pressure on Rwanda and its proxies, as well as strengthening MONUSCO’s role in monitoring the ceasefire. It also underscored the importance of the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, considering that the regional dimension of the conflict must be fully acknowledged in order to foster an appropriate and lasting response.
While reaffirming in good faith its commitment to ongoing diplomatic efforts, from Doha to Washington, at the Security Council and within the African Union, the Democratic Republic of the Congo recalled that lasting peace in the Great Lakes requires a sincere and equivalent commitment from all signatories and guarantors of the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement.