New York, 26 March 2026 — Speaking before the United Nations Security Council during the presentation of the Secretary-General’s Report on MONUSCO, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reaffirmed its deep concern over the continued hostilities in the eastern part of the country, despite the commitments made under the Washington and Doha processes. It denounced the continued offensives by the M23, with the support of the Rwanda Defence Forces, as well as their human, security and institutional consequences for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Congolese delegation recalled that these acts constitute not only a serious violation of international law, but also a direct affront to the authority of the Security Council. In this context, it called for the immediate, full and uncompromising implementation of resolution 2773, notably through the withdrawal of the Rwanda Defence Forces from Congolese territory and the immediate cessation of hostilities by the M23. It stressed that compliance with the decisions of the Security Council cannot be optional.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo also reaffirmed the central importance of MONUSCO as a pillar of civilian protection and stabilization. It emphasized that, at the current stage, the Mission’s role in the ceasefire architecture remains decisive, notably through its participation in the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism, its support to the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, and its technical contributions. It also advocated for the strengthening of this role, the Mission’s full freedom of movement, the lifting of restrictions in areas under M23 control, and the provision of adequate resources.
The Congolese delegation also highlighted the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s constant, sincere and good-faith commitment to the ongoing political processes. It reaffirmed its attachment to the Washington and Doha processes, as well as to the various regional and international initiatives aimed at achieving lasting peace. It further reiterated its full support for the mediation led by the African Union, welcoming the role of the African Union mediator, the efforts of the Togolese mediator, as well as the involvement of committed partners and facilitators, notably the African Union, the United States, Qatar and regional organizations.
The DRC also took note with satisfaction of the measures adopted by certain international partners, notably the European Union and the United States, through sanctions targeting individuals involved in destabilizing the region. It considered these measures an important signal and called for their strengthening in order to put an end to impunity.
In the final part of its statement, the Democratic Republic of the Congo placed particular emphasis on its legitimate right to fully restore its authority over the entirety of its territory. It stressed that no lasting solution can be envisaged without strict respect for its territorial integrity, the dismantling of parallel administrations, and the effective restoration of State authority.
The position of the Congolese Government, the delegation recalled, is clear: there can be no peace without respect for sovereignty, no credible process without the implementation of commitments, and no stability without accountability. In the same spirit, the DRC affirmed that it lacks neither will nor commitment, but that what is now expected is resolute, coherent and collective action to ensure respect for the decisions of the Security Council and bring an end to the suffering of the Congolese people.
Concluding in particularly firm terms, the Congolese delegation stated that the time is no longer for declarations of intent, but for action. This final sequence gave the Congolese intervention a tone of political firmness and operational urgency with regard to peace mechanisms and the decisions of the Council.
Lastly, responding to the remarks made by the representative of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo rejected the accusations made against it regarding the FDLR and hate speech. It argued that these issues cannot obscure the occupation of parts of Congolese territory, nor the violence committed in the eastern part of the country. It also recalled that the issue of the exploitation of Congolese natural resources is now better understood at the level of the Council and the international community.