In the face of the intensification of hostilities in Ukraine and the worsening of their human consequences, the Democratic Republic of the Congo called, at the Security Council, for an effective ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and an exclusively political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict.
The full statement of the DRC is published below.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo welcomes the convening of this emergency meeting on Ukraine.
My delegation thanks Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari and Assistant Secretary-General Joyce Msuya for their briefings.
More than one thousand five hundred days have passed without a durable resolution being found to the war in Ukraine. Like the other members of the Security Council, and particularly the A3, the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains deeply concerned by the continuation of hostilities and the constant worsening of their human and material consequences.
Beyond its immediate consequences, this conflict continues to produce troubling effects far beyond its immediate theatre. It fuels transnational dynamics of violence, which also affect the African continent.
Madam President,
While encouraging signs had emerged in mid-February in favour of a resumption of diplomatic efforts, it must be acknowledged that this glimmer of hope has, over the weeks, gradually faded in favour of an intensification of the fighting.
The facts recently reported to the Security Council are unequivocal. The current dynamics reflect a troubling move away from prospects for de-escalation, through the multiplication of strikes, particularly using missiles and drones, as well as the significant increase in the number of civilian casualties.
Mr. President,
In the face of this reality, it is imperative to recall that the continuation of hostilities engages the responsibility of all parties.
Each attack, each retaliation, each further escalation contributes to worsening an already tragic human toll and to entrenching this conflict ever more deeply in a logic of destruction that moves, day after day, further away from the return to peaceful coexistence between two nations that are nonetheless sister nations.
Human lives are cut short every day, families disappear, and cities are emptied. Fear and hardship have today become the common denominator for an entire generation for whom each additional day of war pushes further away any prospect of lasting peace.
Mr. President,
The choice of de-escalation and the resolution of this crisis through dialogue can no longer be postponed. Indeed, the Democratic Republic of the Congo consistently reiterates its position: there is no military solution to this conflict.
Only a political and diplomatic solution, based on dialogue, good faith, and respect for international law, international humanitarian law, and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, will make it possible to bring this crisis to a lasting end.
To that end, we call for an effective ceasefire and for the strict observance of any commitments undertaken in this regard. The repeated violations of recent ceasefire initiatives only further weaken the prospects for a peaceful settlement of the conflict and underscore the urgency of restoring trust between the parties.
Mr. President,
The protection of civilians must remain an absolute priority.
It is imperative to spare civilian populations as well as essential infrastructure, particularly energy infrastructure, the destruction of which directly affects living conditions and compromises access to basic services.
We also recall the need to guarantee rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all persons in need.
Finally, Mr. President,
The Democratic Republic of the Congo urges all parties to exercise greater restraint and to give priority to diplomacy, which remains the best path toward establishing a just and credible peace for the benefit of the affected populations.
I thank you.