Delivered by Ambassador Zénon Mukongo Ngay on Thursday, 2 April 2026, at the United Nations Security Council, this statement highlights two key ideas.
First, the Democratic Republic of the Congo underscores the need to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States in order to respond more effectively to complex crises, prevent their escalation, and promote coordinated political and diplomatic solutions.
Second, the DRC stresses the importance of closer cooperation between the League of Arab States and the African Union, particularly in addressing crises affecting member states of both organizations, in full respect of international law, State sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Below is the full statement.
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Mr. President,
We welcome the holding of this meeting, which is the result of the efforts made by the Kingdom of Bahrain to bring before the Security Council an in-depth reflection on cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations.
Following on from this morning’s discussions, my delegation believes that strengthening this cooperation is an imperative, not only in view of the growing proximity of crises, but also because of the rapid evolution of threats to international peace and security.
My delegation thanks Mr. Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, as well as His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, for the quality of their briefings and the perspectives they have brought to the attention of the Council.
Mr. President,
The multidimensional crises currently affecting several situations in the Arab region, notably in Palestine and Yemen, continue to weigh heavily on civilian populations and to undermine the prospects for lasting stability. These dynamics are compounded by evolving threats, characterized by the increased use of asymmetric means, including missile and drone strikes, cyber operations, and the targeting of critical infrastructure.
These developments highlight the need for coordinated and integrated responses encompassing the political, security, humanitarian and development dimensions.
In this particularly demanding context, the Democratic Republic of the Congo calls for renewed collective engagement in favor of conflict prevention, de-escalation, and the peaceful settlement of disputes, in strict respect for international law.
In the same spirit, my delegation recognizes the crucial role of regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States represents a remarkable example of integration between regional and international institutions, making it possible to address more effectively the complex challenges facing that region as well as the international community as a whole.
With regard to the management of transboundary challenges, it is worth noting the signing, a few years ago, of a memorandum of understanding between the United Nations and the League of Arab States aimed at strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism, organized crime, and human trafficking.
Furthermore, in connection with the intensification of strategic cooperation, one cannot overlook the facilitating role of the United Nations Liaison Office to the League of Arab States in Cairo, Egypt.
This is indeed an opportunity to underscore more than ever the relevance of this cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, which continue to play a decisive role, notably through the strengthening of preventive diplomacy, mediation, and coordination between the Envoys and Special Representatives of the two organizations.
Mr. President,
In this regard, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reaffirms its attachment to the fundamental principles of international law, international humanitarian law, and the Charter of the United Nations. It is guided by respect for the sovereignty of States, their territorial integrity, as well as by the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes and the non-use of force.
From this perspective, my delegation also emphasizes the importance of strengthened horizontal cooperation among regional and subregional organizations.
To that end, closer collaboration and a pooling of efforts between the League of Arab States and the African Union, particularly in the management of crises affecting member States of both organizations, could help change the situation.
The situations in Libya and Sudan clearly illustrate the need for such coordination. Furthermore, lessons learned from past crises, particularly in Libya, strongly remind us of the limits of attempts to resolve conflicts by force and underscore the importance of prioritizing inclusive political and diplomatic processes led by regional organizations and actors.
Mr. President,
The multiplication of transnational threats, including disinformation, hate speech, and attacks against critical infrastructure, requires better coordinated collective responses.
Strengthening institutional capacities, crisis preparedness, and the development of resilience mechanisms must therefore constitute priority areas of cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States.
In this regard, the Democratic Republic of the Congo believes that certain situations could serve as concrete tests of the effectiveness of the partnership between the United Nations and the League of Arab States.
Developments underway in Syria, as well as the implementation of resolution 2803, offer real opportunities in this respect to demonstrate the ability of the two organizations to act in a coordinated, pragmatic, and results-oriented manner.
Mr. President,
In conclusion, the Democratic Republic of the Congo wishes to commend, as part of efforts to improve coordination, the holding of the 17th General Cooperation Meeting between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, scheduled to take place in Geneva in July 2026. This meeting will aim to establish a biennial framework promoting joint action in several sectors such as peace and security.
My delegation remains convinced that the strengthening of the partnership between the United Nations and the League of Arab States resulting from this process will constitute an important lever for addressing emerging threats, preventing the spillover effects of crises, and promoting more coherent regional and international responses.
I thank you.