The situation in the Great Lakes region - Security Council, 10136th meeting

The 10,136th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is the situation in the Great Lakes region. The agenda is adopted. In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Angola and Rwanda to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate on this meeting. Mr. Huang Xia, Special Envoy for the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, and Ms. Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of the UN Women. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda. I wish to draw the attention of the Council's members to document S/2026/256, the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region. I now give the floor to Mr. Huang Xia.

Mr. President, distinguished members of the Council, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for providing me with this opportunity to update you on the recent developments in the situation in the Great Lakes region. I would have liked to be the bearer of good news on the status of the crisis shaking the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region. Regrettably, that's not the case. Indeed, since my briefing last October, while the region has seen a considerable intensification in diplomatic initiatives, the humanitarian and security situations have worsened to a worrisome level. The continued erosion of trust between actors in the region, in part explains the persistent divide between political commitments and the reality on the ground. This disconnect remains today our main collective challenge. On diplomatic initiatives, the Washington and Doha processes, as well as African efforts, have opened new windows of opportunity. The signing of the Washington Accords on 4 December last year represented a significant step. However, the temporary capture of Oveira by the M23 just a few days later had severe consequences for civilians and regional relations. I welcome the resumption of negotiations in Washington on 17 and 18 March this year. This allowed for the adoption of specific measures to be taken, in particular the identification of certain areas of operation of the Democratic Liberation Forces, the FDLR. During my last visit in the region, just before my arrival in New York, Congolese authorities updated me that operations against the FDLR were being prepared. and that an awareness-raising campaign was also underway to offer fighters the possibility to surrender voluntarily. Congolese authorities and MONUSCO also noted some withdrawal movements of M23 troops from certain positions. In Doha, We've seen two significant steps forward. Firstly, the establishment of the ceasefire oversight and verification mechanism and the adoption of the terms of reference for the enhanced joint verification mechanism plus. I welcome the resumption this week of the Doha talks between representatives of the government, the DRC government and of the AFC M23, co-facilitated by Qatar and the United States, with the support of the Swiss Confederation that is hosting the negotiations. I hope that this resumption will allow the swift operationalization of the protocol on the oversight mechanism, as well as on the six pending protocols under the Doha peace agreement framework. At a continental level, I am pleased to see that African efforts have been stepped up around the African Union mediator. The meeting in Lome on the 17th of January indeed confirmed the crucial role of Togolese mediation. The mediator and the panel of facilitators have increased their consultations in the capitals of the region. This is a crucial step to build on ongoing peace processes. Mr. President, despite these efforts, The violence has taken on a new dimension, marked by the increasing use of advanced military technology. Drone attacks, GPS jamming and spoofing, bombings. The tragic death of a UNICEF employee on the 11th of March in Goma is a painful reminder of these realities. The human toll of this protracted crisis remains unacceptable. Several million people remain displaced and facing food insecurity. We've seen a rise in sexual violence, as well as tax on humanitarian workers and the destruction of essential infrastructure. This is compounded by a worrisome rise in hate speech and identity-based polarization, sometimes instrumentalized. This fuels cycles of reprisals and heightens social fragmentation. This situation threatens to transform an already serious security crisis into an even more devastating community level conflict. These dynamics are also exacerbating regional tensions between certain countries in the region. In response to these worrisome trends, I have stepped up my own good offices. I traveled to Lome, Addis Ababa, and Doha to provide my offices support to the mediation efforts. to promote a greater consistency between international initiatives and African ones, and to mobilize more targeted support for the peace processes. In Uganda, I consulted with authorities in the context of their current chairmanship of the regional oversight mechanism of the Addis Ababa framework, so as to promote regional convergence on de-escalation measures. In this regard, I wish to express my support for the conclusions on strengthening complementarity and consistency that emerged from the ad hoc summit convened on the 21st of December last year by President Museveni. My office has also enhanced its support for long-term stabilization efforts, notably by supporting a high-level workshop on combating the illegal exploitation of natural resources, drawing on lessons learned from the Kimberley Process, and by consolidating the participation of women and young people in peace processes, in line with Security Council resolutions 1325 and 2250. Furthermore, under my office's facilitation, Member States of the Contact and Coordination Group have developed standardised operating procedures, SOPs, for the disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation and reintegration of foreign armed groups. These SOPs aim to harmonise non-military approaches and will be endorsed at a ministerial meeting scheduled for June. I also welcome the close collaboration between my office, the African Union, the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, and relevant United Nations entities in the implementation of the UN strategy for the Great Lakes region. in particular on youth, peace and security and on refugee related issues. This momentum in this area was particularly clear during the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Resolution 2250. My office, the UNFPA, the UNDP and UNICEF all supported the work of youth organizations. committed to peace building in the region. As well as the organization of a conference entitled Reflections and Renewed Commitment for Africa on young people in partnership with the ICJLR and COMESA. My office also worked with the UNHCR and the European Union to organize from the 16th to the 18th of March a regional ministerial conference on comprehensive solutions for Burundian refugees, bringing together regional governments, South Africa, Burundi, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia, as well as regional economic communities and several partners. Mr. President, distinguished members of the Council, It is regrettable that commitments made through the Washington and Doha processes have not yet been fully translated into sufficient action on the ground. The risk of slippage towards a regional confrontation remains present. This Council cannot afford to see a recurrence of the cycle of violence that it has seen for all too long. The comprehensive implementation of resolutions 2773 and 2808 is urgent. In this context, this Council's support is vital to ensure that the parties make specific progress. The immediate priority is the establishment of an effective, verifiable and fully respected ceasefire. Its credibility hinges on the full operationalization of the oversight mechanism and the EEJVM+. Indeed, The monitoring, verification and reporting functions of these mechanisms are essential to restoring a de-escalation. The resumption of negotiations between the DRC and the AFC M23 represents a considerable opportunity to better define the modalities for effective operational cooperation between the parties so as to ensure full respect for the ceasefire. In addition, it's essential that members of the Council strengthen their engagement with the parties to secure the opening and protection of humanitarian corridors, guaranteeing safe, swift, and unimpeded access to populations in need. On the political level, it's essential that we address this crisis while remaining mindful of its regional and historical dimensions. This is a crisis that is particularly visible in the eastern DRC, but which for more than 30 years has been characterized by a complex web of closely intertwined and competing political, economic and social interests, both at the national and regional levels. It is in this context that my office has been entrusted with a regional mandate. that runs as a complement to the national mandate of MONUSCO. Indeed, the situation on the ground and persistent mistrust among countries today continue to highlight the relevance of this regional mandate in addressing the root causes of the conflict in the eastern DRC. At the same time, it's crucial to support the mediation led by Togo and the work of the panel of facilitators. On the 27th of March this year, I met with the African Union mediator. It is imperative that we lend him strong political, technical, and financial support in order to promote a high-level political dialogue among leaders. and to reinforce mediation initiatives already undertaken in Washington and Doha. While efforts should naturally converge around the pre-existing agreements, the Rebuilding trust between regional leaders is just as essential to ensure the long-term success of any agreement. I therefore urge the Security Council to support these trust-building initiatives, which is an essential precondition for true, lasting peace. Finally, in order to address the root causes of the conflict, the revitalization of the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement remains essential. In this regard, I welcome the commitment of the South African authorities, whom I met recently in Pretoria, to continue these revitalization efforts within the framework of South Africa's presidency of the regional oversight mechanism, beginning in 2027. This will be a fresh opportunity to strengthen the regional momentum for sustainable peace. Allow me to conclude with an appeal to the parties. No resolution, no mediation, no verification mechanism can succeed unless the parties directly concerned choose the path of peace. I therefore call upon the DRC, Rwanda and all concerned actors, including the AFC M23, to resume frank dialogue, to immediately ease tensions and ensure the effective and timely implementation of all of their commitments. Thank you.

I thank Mr. Shia for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Sima Sami Bahous.

Thank you, Mr. President. Excellencies, my thanks to the Permanent Representative, His Excellency Ambassador Jamal Fares Alruwaili, and the mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain for convening this session and for the kind invitation. My thanks also to Special Envoy Huang Qi, for his briefing and for our excellent collaboration on women, peace and security, and in making women's priorities and leadership central to prevention, peacebuilding and regional stability. Excellencies, the opportunities of women's leadership for peace in the Great Lakes region are unique and transformative and give us hope. I remind us that the Security Council's first resolution on women, peace, and security in the year 2000 was in part inspired by Nelson Mandela's support to Burundian women to play their rightful part in ending the civil war in their country. Their proposals, ideas, and energies suffused the Arusha Accords. War ended. Burundi today boasts one of the highest percentages of women's representation in politics in its region, alongside thousands of women mediators working at local level, preventing small conflicts from becoming bigger ones. UN Women is proud to support such efforts. In the Karamoja region of Uganda, for example, women lead cross-border dialogues to prevent conflict and peace. In Uganda also, women's representation in certain districts and sub-county peace committees have nearly tripled from 17% in 2022 to 46% in 2025. 21 districts now have local action plans on women, peace and security, 16 of which were supported directly by UN Women. So, Excellencies, peace in this region, as we have heard, hinges on the eastern region of the DRC, and peace in the DRC will only be secured when women are treated not as collateral victims and their bodies as spoils of war, but as empowered agents of stability accountability, and peace. Without safety, women cannot lead. And without their leadership, peace and recovery efforts fail. The same applies across the broader region. Excellencies, the Great Lakes region offers fertile ground for women's leadership in peace and security with some of the highest percentages of women representation in politics in the world. 11 of 12 countries of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region have national action plans on women, peace, and security. The new regional action plan 2026-2030 focuses on integrating women into peacebuilding and addressing gender-based violence, including in digital spaces. The regional gender barometer monitors gender equality efforts in the region. And there is the Advisory Board for Women, Peace and Security in the Great Lakes Region. I thank the Special Envoy for his collaboration and efforts to turn this platform into a mechanism that can link the effort of women at the grassroots level with high-level diplomacy. The soon-to-be-adopted African Union Commission framework will enforce a minimum 30% women's representation in AU-led mediation based on the mandate outlined by the African Union's Peace and Security Council. UN Women applauds this groundbreaking initiative and calls on other multilateral bodies to follow their lead. Specifically, Excellencies, in DRC, despite the conflict, we see a positive trajectory for women's representation in politics, including senior leadership. And we see where that can lead. It can lead to greater accountability for gender-based violence and crimes, with hundreds of members of rebel groups and the DRC's own armed forces put on trial for sexual violence, ensuring that women albeit still in small numbers, receive the justice they deserve. The space is there. The potential rewards are game changing. So I have three asks of you today, Excellencies. First, I ask that you lend your voice ever more to calls for equal representation of women in peacemaking efforts in the DRC and the broader region. More women in parliament or cabinets is positive, but does not guarantee meaningful representation in peace and security decision-making. While two of the five facilitators of the AU-led process are now women, the Washington Accords are silent on women, gender-related issues, and even the sexual violence that has been both hallmark and driver of conflict. UN Women has supported Congolese women's advocacy, but without this Security Council's support, they will remain on the outside looking in. Second, I ask that you protect the peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, and its critical mandate in the DRC, and recall the hundreds of trials against perpetrators of conflict-related violence. Recall the women activists and human rights defenders who have enjoyed MONUSCO's protection. Recall the women supported in their crucial work in local peace efforts between the Hema and the Lendu in Ituri. Recall also that peacekeepers tailor patrols to alert specific areas from local women, that they have opened their bases to protect displaced women at imminent risk. Now, consider, Excellencies, what removing this means. Consider the 60% of women human rights defenders in North Kivu reporting ongoing direct threats. Consider Medecins Sans Frontieres' reports of 28,000 victims of sexual and gender-based violence in the first half of last year. And consider that currently, the Mission has no senior women's protection advisor and a weakened gender unit. MONUSCO, but more importantly, those civilian women and girls, men and boys it serves deserve much better. Third, I ask you to support women-led and youth-led civil society organizations and to protect civic space. Women's organizations and youth are crucial but unappreciated frontline peacebuilding actors. They also represent critical defense against democratic erosion, which can lead to more conflict. In this region, as much as any, despite high percentages of women in politics, perhaps even in part in pushback to it, we see precisely that democratic erosion, narrowing space for civil society and human rights. Despite this, we are far from meeting the needs. We could empower thousands of women peace actors across the Great Lakes at a fraction of the cost of military spending for vastly better results. The Security Council could make the difference to unlocking the necessary support and offering protection in and of itself. So, Excellencies, let me just add that my asks are neither impractical nor beyond what this august Council can do. We owe the women of the Great Lakes region, those determined, inspiring women who work tirelessly today for peace tomorrow, we owe them our best. The opportunity is there. The path to seizing it is clear. I urge all of us to work that path together now, and to commit to gender equality and women's leadership so that this region can finally find peace. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank Ms. Sima Sami Bahous for her briefing. I now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statement. I give the floor to the representative of France.

Mr. President, first and foremost, I wish to thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary General, Mr. Huang Xia, and the Executive Director of UN Women, Madam Sima Bahous, for their briefings. First and foremost, it is evident that diplomatic progress has still not been reflected on the ground. The populations continue to be victimized by the operations of armed groups in the east of the DRC, which has spawned A catastrophic humanitarian situation. The role of women also must not be overlooked in peace efforts, because women are the main victims of this conflict. specifically owing to the use of sexual violence as weapons of war by armed groups. Because women play a decisive role in dealing with the root causes of the conflict, including demobilization of armed groups, facilitating community-based reconciliation, and fostering economic stabilization. Because combating impunity, protection of the rights of women, and providing support for victims are of paramount importance. We are wedded to our commitments undertaken under the Women, Peace, Security agenda. And on that basis, France calls for greater participation of women in peace processes. We also applaud the efforts undertaken to that end, inter alia, through facilitation of the African Union. I wish to highlight two points. First and foremost, we need to continue to support the efforts of the mediators. France reiterates our full support for the African Union's engagement, as well as Togo's mediation and the efforts of the United States and Qatar who are presently facilitating the resumption of discussions in Switzerland, Resolution 2773 was unanimously adopted by the Security Council. This resolution establishes a framework of action for the pooled efforts. The resolution calls upon M23 to cease its offensive, and the resolution calls upon the Rwandan Defense Forces to withdraw from Congolese soil and on the DRC to neutralize the FDLR. The Security Council must see to it that the parties comply with their obligations and their commitments, and that they do so without delay. The efforts of the mediators dovetails with those of the United Nations. beyond the priority function of civilian protection, the mandate of MONUSCO was deepened in order to support peace-related efforts and to contribute to the implementation of a lasting ceasefire. The mission needs to be able to deliver upon its mandate in an unimpeded manner. The Special Envoy is working towards facilitating regional cooperation for the repatriation of foreign combatants and transparent natural resource management. to my second point. The resumption of discussions needs to be reflected on the ground with concrete commitments of the parties on a ceasefire and addressing the humanitarian situation. We will closely and we will see to it that the parties and we must see to it that the parties engage in good faith to implementing the ceasefire in an effective, verifiable, permanent manner in order to and to conclude the humanitarian protocol. We also need to step up efforts to resume humanitarian flights via Goma airport, pursuant to the commitment adopted in Paris in October, and following the flight by the Deputy Head of MONUSCO, Madame de Paire, on 12 February last. The illusion of a military solution must give way to a lasting political solution. This hinges on a cessation of all hate speech, which imperils safety of civilians, and hinges on progress on intra-Congolese dialogue. In this regard, we welcome the consultations initiated by Angola. I wish to highlight two clear points to conclude. Respect for Congolese sovereignty and territorial integrity is non-negotiable. There's a need to fight against impunity for violations of human rights, violations of IHL, and there is a need to hold perpetrators accountable. The Council must remain engaged in supporting peace efforts and to ensure accountability for those who foment destabilization in the region. Thank you.

Thank you, representative of France, for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of Liberia.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3, namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and my own country, Liberia. We thank the special envoy of the Secretary General for the Great Lakes region for his insightful briefing and sustained engagement. We also thank the Executive Director of UN Women for grounding our discussion in the lived realities of those most affected by this conflict. We take note of the Secretary General's report on the implementation of the peace, security, and cooperation framework submitted pursuant to resolution 2808 of 2025. And we do certainly welcome warmly the presence of colleagues and distinguished representatives from the Great Lakes region. Mr. President, as African members of this council, the A3 is clear-eyed about one fundamental truth. There can be no peace in Africa while the Great Lakes region remains unstable. African leaders, as we just heard, have stepped up. They have stepped forward. African mediation is crucially underway. These efforts deserve strong and sustained international support, matched by concrete follow-through actions of this Council and the broader international community. In this regard, we commend the mediation and coordination efforts led by their excellencies, Presidents Goual Renzo, Faure Nsengimwe, and Yoweri Museveni. These African-led initiatives truly matter to the resolution of this conflict, but they will only succeed if they are coherent, enforced, and sufficiently supported to deliver results. When mediation speaks in multiple voices, spoilers listen carefully, and they will act accordingly. The Washington Accords and the Doha Framework demonstrate that diplomacy remains alive. But agreements without credible and collective commitment to implementation do not build trust, nor do they stop a single bullet. On the ground, as we have heard, trust continues to erode. parallel power structures persist, and accusations travel faster than confidence can be rebuilt under such circumstances. For this reason, the A3 calls for a single results-driven implementation framework, African-led and firmly anchored in the peace, security, and cooperation framework. This framework must do four things clearly and without ambiguity. One, it must set measurable obligations with clear timelines. 2. It must establish impartial verification protected from political convenience. 3. It must apply consequences when commitments are ignored. 4. It must ensure coordination among mediation tracks rather than competition between them. Mr. President, peace may be declared in agreements, but experience teaches us that too often, peace must be enforced through discipline and accountability. As we have been informed, the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is deteriorating, not incrementally, but dangerously. This poses a serious threat to regional and international peace. The A3 calls for an immediate end to hostilities, as required by Resolution 2773 of 2025 and reiterated in Resolution 2808 of 2026. The same obligation is embedded in the Washington agreements and the Doha process. These commitments must be fully respected. At the same time, we are deeply concerned by the continued expansion of armed groups, including the use of heavy weapons and armed drones in civilian areas, which we just heard again confirmed by the Special Envoy. This, the A3 believes, is in clear violation of international humanitarian law and cannot be ignored. Therefore, the A3 condemns these actions without qualification. Let us be clear. International humanitarian law is not optional. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is non-negotiable. As the briefers have variously informed, A failure to reverse this trajectory risks regional spillover and dangerous miscalculation in the Great Lakes region. In this context, the A3 welcomes all initiatives aimed at accelerating the operationalization of the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program for foreign combatants. We reiterate our call for sustained support to this program. Each country in the region must assume its responsibilities by establishing national mechanisms to address armed groups operating within its territory and facilitating their return to their countries of origin. Mr. President, In the Great Lakes region, as the reports confirm, the humanitarian situation remains dire. More than 6 million people have been displaced. Children are malnourished, not because solutions are lacking, but because resources have not arrived. Humanitarian response plans remain severely underfunded. Access is constrained. Host communities are stretched to breaking points. The stubborn truth is that humanitarian response cannot rely on sympathy alone. It requires predictable financing, unconditional access, and fair burden sharing. In this regard, the A3 calls upon the UNHCR to work closely with countries of the Great Lakes region to strengthen a regional approach to cross-border refugee risk management and to ensure that when conditions permit, refugees are supported in achieving a safe, voluntary and dignified return to their respective countries. Mr. President, protection of civilians is not a footnote to mediation. It is the measure of whether mediation is actually worth the name. Accountability must advance alongside dialogue, not later, not someday, not anytime soon, but now. History reminds all of us that peace built on silence around abuses will not long endure. Distinguished colleagues, The conflict in the Great Lakes region is sustained not only by weapons, but by profits. The illicit exploitation of natural resources continues to finance instability. Tackling impunity in this domain requires action across the entire chain, from production to export to exploitation. The A3, therefore, welcomes efforts, including those emerging from the Gaborone workshop, to strengthen transparency, traceability, and governance in the extractive sector. We also support the establishment of a mechanism similar to the Kimberley Process to address gold from conflict zones. Disrupting the political economy of violence is not secondary. It is central to ending this war. The peace, security, and cooperation framework remains the region's most credible roadmap. But roadmaps do not move people, decisions do. The people of the Great Lakes do not need more agreements. They need proof that agreements matter. This council must signal clearly and collectively that obstruction will be exposed, violations will be addressed, and African-led solutions will be matched by international support and resolve. Anything less risks turning this moment into yet another missed opportunity, a failure none of us should accept and certainly the people of the Great Lakes region do not deserve. In closing, the A3 reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of all the brotherly nations of the Great Lakes region, an essential pillar of our African continent. And I thank you for your kind attention.

I thank the representative of Liberia for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of China.

President, I thank Special Envoy Sha Huang and Executive Director Bahlous for their briefings. I welcome permanent representatives of Angola and Rwanda to today's meeting. The Great Lakes region lies at the heart of the African continent, with rich natural resources and enormous development potential. But regrettably, in this region, conflict keeps coming back, and peace processes are set back. causing massive displacement and even deaths. Peace, development, and prosperity of the Great Lakes region requires mutual respect, dialogue, reconciliation, solidarity, and cooperation among the regional countries, as well as the support and assistance of international community. I would like to make three points. First, prompt efforts are needed to de-escalate, implement ceasefire on the ground. Eastern DRC has always been the epicenter of the regional instability. Given the absence of a genuine and long overdue ceasefire in eastern DRC and the frequent conflict violence, the international community must urge all conflict parties to implement Council resolutions, including 2773, fully honor their ceasefire commitments, and avoid escalatory actions. China welcomes the AU-led mediation efforts and supports its central role in resolving eastern DRC problems. We note that relocated the Doha process negotiations and encourage parties to seize opportunity to reach greater consensus on a lasting ceasefire. The Council should continue to support the mediation coordination efforts led by the SG's Special Envoy for Great Lakes Region, clearly defined the regional mandate of the Special Office and the country-specific mandate of MONUSCO, and jointly provide great assistance to the peace processes led by the AU and the region. Second, the security concerns of all countries must be properly addressed to uphold common security. As neighbors, the countries in the Great Lakes region share close communal ties and a long history of interaction. This should be an asset for regional countries in the communication and cooperation instead of a liability that gives rise to suspicion and hatred. China has always called on regional countries to reject geopolitical confrontation and build good-neighbourly relations, to set aside historical grievances and bridge trust gaps, and to move beyond zero-sum thinking to pursue win-win cooperation. It is normal for neighbors to have differences, but Escalation and the use of force can't fundamentally resolve problems. The key is for them to uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security and resolve differences through dialogue and consultation. That is a way to achieve lasting peace, unity, and stability in the region. Third, we need security and development working tandem to address root causes of conflict. The chronic turmoil in the Great Lakes region stems not only from immediate security challenges, but is also closely linked to the region's development and governance deficits, especially due to the intertwined illegal mining and armed activities. Regional resources, instead of being translated into public wellbeing, exacerbate the cycle of violence. To tackle this challenge, one cannot rely solely on short-term security measures. A long-term perspective is needed to support regional countries in overcoming the conundrum of weak governance and underdevelopment, and enhancing people's sense of fulfillment, happiness, and national identity. The international community must support regional countries in strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation on mineral resources and severing illegal mining and smuggling chains. When partaking in regional resource development, major external powers should always ensure openness, inclusivity, and transparency, and avoid instrumentalization and politicization of resources. Present, China has always attached great importance to the Great Lakes region, with a commitment to the peace, stability, and development of the region. China has consistently supported and upheld the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of the DRC. China announced a comprehensive zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries, including those in Great Lakes region, effective May 1. We have extensive cooperation with regional countries in such areas as infrastructure, mineral resources, and industrialization, making significant contribution to the growth of exports and jobs and development of the region. China stands ready to continue working with all parties to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with regional countries and help the region achieve lasting peace, development, and prosperity. Thank you, President.

I thank the representative of China for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.

Thank you, President. I thank Special Envoy Xie and Executive Director Bahous for their briefings. And I welcome the representatives of Angola and Rwanda in today's meeting. President, before I begin my statements on the Great Lakes region, I want to recognize that this month marks the 32nd anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. As we remember the horrific crimes that were committed, my thoughts are with the families and victims at this somber time. I will now make three points. First, the United Kingdom remains concerned by the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region, particularly driven by regional conflicts. We note that millions of civilians have been internally displaced in eastern DRC, and hundreds of thousands have sought refuge in neighboring states. We have also seen the Sudan conflict driving displacement into South Sudan and Uganda. We call on all parties to facilitate full, safe, and rapid humanitarian access to those in need. We also urge support for regional humanitarian appeals. The United Kingdom provided over $130 million of humanitarian and peacebuilding funding to Eastern DRC and the region last year. We also urge an intensification of efforts to bring an end to conflicts in the region. We commend the diplomatic progress in negotiations to end the conflict in eastern DRC, and commend the leadership of the United States, Qatar and the African Union in driving peace. But diplomatic progress must also translate into progress on the ground. Second, it is critical that the protection of civilians is prioritised. We note that over 2,900 human rights violations have been documented by the UN in eastern DRC in the last six months. Women and girls continue to be disproportionately impacted by conflict, including widespread reports of conflict-related sexual violence. We call on all actors to protect civilians in line with their obligations under international law. Third, The United Kingdom is concerned at growing restrictions on civic and political space in certain parts of the region, including arbitrary arrests and, in some states, the detention of opposition members. Inclusive governance, accountability and the safeguarding of rights are essential for long-term stability in the region, helping to address grievances and undercut cycles of instability. We ask all countries to uphold civic space and protect freedom of expression. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Greece.

Thank you, Madam President. I would like to start by thanking Special Envoy SIA and Executive Director Bahous for their insightful briefings. I would also like to welcome the participation of the representatives of Angola and Rwanda in today's meeting. Madam President, I would like to make the following points. First, despite continuous collective international and regional efforts and considerable achievements, the armed conflict in the DRC continues. We are alarmed by the continuous violence in eastern DRC and the broader regional escalations. We reiterate that Resolution 2773 must be implemented immediately, fully and unconditionally. The momentum generated by the Washington Accords must be preserved. We welcome all efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire and advancing sustainable peace, stability, and reconciliation in eastern DRC. We commend the United States, Qatar, the African Union, and Angola for their important mediation efforts. All parties must de-escalate immediately, honor the commitments they have undertaken under the various peace processes, and accelerate their implementation. AFCM 23 must immediately cease hostilities and withdraw all troops from Goma, Bukavu, and all other areas under its control. The airports of Goma and Kavumu must reopen without delay. All restrictions on MONUSCO's freedom of movement must be lifted. Second, we are deeply concerned about the exacerbation of an already dire humanitarian situation. The continuous M23 offensive in Eastern DRC has led to a further and mounting increase of IDPs in the Great Lakes region. We are particularly alarmed by the almost 6.5 million internally displaced persons recorded as of last February, with 3.3 million IDPs in North and South Kivu and almost 1 million in Ituri alone. Food insecurity is affecting already more than 2 million people in Uganda and is projected to affect more than 26 million people in the DRC and another million in Burundi over the first semester of 2026. Recurring communicable diseases and natural disasters triggered by climate change remain also major challenges for the region. We strongly condemn all human rights violations and abuses in the countries of the region, as reported by the Secretary-General. We are particularly concerned about the grave human rights violations and abuses committed against women and children, notably large-scale recruitment and use of children, abductions, killings and maiming, and shocking levels of conflict-related sexual violence. All perpetrators of human rights violations must be brought to justice. Third, we welcome the Special Envoy's recent engagements with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for CAC and the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. We also welcome the support of his office to non-military responses through the Contact and Coordination Group and the first regional standard operating procedure framework document for cooperation on the repatriation of foreign combatants across the Great Lakes region. We stress on the need of cross-border coordination with transparency and accountability for an orderly, safe, voluntary, verified, dignified, and predictable extraction and repatriation of ex-combatants. We believe in the meaningful and active participation of women and youth in the political and peace processes. as key element for sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region and in their pivotal role for the success of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. In conclusion, Madam President, we concur with the Secretary-General on his assessment that building trust and confidence between the parties and ensuring inclusivity remain essential for the collaboration of all the countries of the Great Lakes region towards sustainable, lasting peace, stability, and prosperity. GRSS will continue to engage constructively with all partners in the Security Council as well as bilaterally, towards this end. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Greece for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Panama.

Thank you, Madam President. Panama would like to express its thanks for the briefing by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, Mr. Huang Xia. We also recognize the valuable participation of the Executive Director of UN Women, Ms. Sima Bahous. leadership we applaud and whose presence at this meeting underscores the importance of fully including the women, peace and security agenda in efforts towards stabilization in the region. At the same time, we recognize the presence of the permanent representatives of Angola and Rwanda who join us today. Panama takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the peace, security and cooperation framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region. We recognize the diplomatic efforts sustained over the reporting period, including the Washington and Doha processes, as well as the work of the African Union and the Panel of Facilitators, as well as regional mechanisms to forge ahead towards a lasting political settlement. We particularly welcome the operationalization, gradual operationalization of the ceasefire verification mechanisms and efforts to strengthen coordination between regional initiatives. However, we are extremely concerned that this progress has not yet translated to tangible improvements on the ground. The security situation in the eastern DRC continues to deteriorate with the expansion of armed operations, the increasing use of drones in the conflict, and recent attacks, including in Goma on the 11th of March, which claimed the lives of civilians, including a UNICEF staff member. We note with concern the consolidation of parallel administrative structures as a part of the Rio Congo Alliance and the M23, and in a certain part of the Kivus, their progress in December, as well as the persistent activity of the Allied Democratic Forces, responsible for at least 431 civilian deaths during the reporting period. We are also concerned by the worsening humanitarian crisis. The report flags that 6.4 million people remain internally displaced and that 14.9 million require humanitarian assistance. while only 25.7% of the required funding has been mobilized. This severely hampers the international response to this humanitarian crisis. Panama also wishes to express its concern at the violations of human rights that have been documented, including violence on civilians, vulnerable communities, and the rise in conflict-related sexual violence, which has a disproportionate effect on women and girls. Madam President, in this context, Panama wishes to underscore three priority points. We reiterate the need for a full, verifiable implementation of the commitments undertaken through the Washington and Doha processes, including the finalization of the six pending protocols relating to humanitarian access, the return of displaced persons, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, economic recovery, transitional justice, and restoration of the state's authority. We deem it essential to strengthen consistency between the various mediation initiatives at a continental and regional level, avoiding fragmenting efforts and strengthening African leadership in the quest for sustainable solutions. We highlight the importance of addressing the root causes of the conflict. including the illegal exploitation of natural resources, as well as the importance of guaranteeing the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all peace processes. In this regard, Panama highlights the importance of strengthening the protection of women, female human rights defenders, and supporting the implementation of regional commitments on the participation of women in verification ceasefire verification mechanisms, as well as ensuring the effective inclusion of women in national dialogue processes that are currently being prepared for in the DRC. Panama reaffirms its support for the peace, security and cooperation framework as the cornerstone of the regional stability architecture. We reiterate our support for the role of the special envoy and of the United Nations in promoting dialogue, de-escalation, and international cooperation. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Panama for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Denmark.

Thank you, Madam President. And I would like to thank also Special Envoy Sia and Executive Director Bahous for their briefings and for highlighting the transformative potential of women's participation across the Great Lakes region. Madam President, allow me first to address the current critical situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. resolutions 2773 and 2808, as well as the commitments made under the Washington Accords and the Doha Framework for Peace, we urge the parties to immediately implement a permanent and verifiable ceasefire. In accordance with these resolutions, we reiterate the calls on Rwanda to withdraw its troops from the DRC, for the DRC to neutralize the FDLR, and for the M23 to immediately cease its offensive operations and withdraw from all controlled areas. We reaffirm the centrality of the AU-led mediation track in ensuring harmonization and coherence among peace efforts in the DRC, and we welcome the efforts of Togo and the AU Panel of Facilitators in this regard. We commend the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region's work in consolidating the ceasefire monitoring architecture through the verification mechanism with the key support of MONUSCO and line resolution 2808. We encourage the Special Envoy and his office to continue to support these efforts for peace. We especially urge for the participation of women in the ongoing peace process, whereas we've heard today they're almost entirely absent. Madam President, turning to regional cooperation, we welcome initiatives that enhance trust among states, support legal trade, and create shared economic incentives for peace. In that spirit, we urge the expansion of the regional economic integration framework to include more countries from the region. This has the potential to drive economic progress and improve the lives of communities across the Great Lakes. so has the continued efforts to strengthen transparent natural resource management, as many have mentioned here today. Madam President, Denmark is deeply concerned by the deteriorating human rights situation across the Great Lakes region, marked by persistent violations and hate speech. In eastern DRC, the scale and brutality of violence remains alarming, with armed groups responsible for the majority of abuses, including killings, sexual and gender-based violence, and forced displacement. At the same time, reports of violations by state actors, as well as targeted abuses against specific communities, underscore the urgent need for accountability and protection of all civilians without discrimination. Beyond the DRC, trends across the region point to increasing restrictions on political and civic space. We underscore the importance of upholding human rights and the rule of law, ensuring accountability violations and safeguarding inclusive political processes. And as we've been reminded today, we need to support women and youth-led CSOs and protect the civic space. These are the essential foundations for sustainable peace and stability in the region. Madam President, the path to lasting peace in the Great Lakes region will not be forged through force of arms, but through the steady resolve of cooperation, accountable governance, and a shared determination to address the root causes of conflict. Denmark stands ready to work with all stakeholders to advance dialogue, strengthen partnerships, and uphold the principles that underpin durable peace. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Denmark for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United States.

Thank you, Madam President. And thank you, of course, to Special Envoy Shea for your briefing and for your continued coordination in the region. and to the director of Bahous of UN Women and to the team and the valuable reminders of the importance of women and our contributions to peace, security and prosperity. And the remarks from my colleagues acknowledging that as well, and to the representatives of Rwanda and Angola. The signing of the Washington Accords Joint Declaration between the DRC and Rwanda is a significant achievement, one where President Trump broke gridlock once again through direct engagement and sustained diplomacy. We fully expect the complete and timely implementation of all elements of the agreement to advance peace, stability, and prosperity in eastern DRC and the broader Great Lakes region. The American people would also like to express our appreciation to Qatar for its work in facilitating the Doha framework. This complementary track focused on direct engagement between the government of the DRC and the M23 armed group is critical to addressing immediate sources of violence. We thank Switzerland for its willingness to host the latest round of talks, which are currently ongoing. We also appreciate the African Union's mediation efforts, which complement the Washington and Doha processes. African-led efforts remain indispensable for long-term stability. The African Union's work centered on the panel of facilitators and under the leadership of the Togolese president is critical to peacebuilding in the Great Lakes. We also commend the efforts of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region in supporting ceasefire oversight and verification under the Doha Process. Lasting peace in the Great Lakes must ultimately be led and sustained by the region itself. Despite the progress to date, we cannot ignore the challenges that remain. We are deeply disappointed by Rwanda's continued escalation of the conflict. which continues a direct violation of its obligations under the Washington Accords. We reiterate our call for the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops. The sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of the DRC must be respected. In turn, the government of the DRC must follow through on its commitments to immediately neutralize the FDLR at least in the areas under its control. Addressing these longstanding security concerns is essential to breaking the cycle of mistrust that has fueled this conflict for decades. We are not afraid to explore all available tools to promote accountability for those who undermine peace. Last month, the United States imposed targeted sanctions on the Rwandan Defense Force and four senior RDF generals responsible for destabilizing actions. Those who undermine peace should expect consequences. As a committed partner in advancing security and prosperity for the Great Lakes, the American people remain focused on a single objective, which is durable peace. We will continue to follow developments in the region with great attention. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the United States for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Thank you, Madam President. Pakistan thanks the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Huang Xia, for his detailed briefing. We also appreciate the complimentary briefing by Executive Director Seema Bahous and take good note of her key asks. And I also welcome the participation of Angola and Rwanda in this meeting. President, as we have heard, the situation in eastern DRC remains fragile and deeply concerning. Continued violence, humanitarian pressures, and internal displacement underscore the urgency of restoring peace and stability on the ground. We reiterate the need for full implementation of Resolution 2773 and stress that progress towards a durable ceasefire remains essential for stabilizing the region and creating space for a political solution. We welcome the sustained diplomatic engagement in support of de-escalation, including efforts under the African Union-led mediation, the Washington process, and the Doha framework. These initiatives, together with the good offices of the United Nations and regional organizations, represent important and mutually reinforcing pathways towards restoring trust between the parties and advancing a comprehensive settlement. Pakistan also takes note of progress towards operationalizing the ceasefire oversight and verification arrangements and supports MONUSCO playing a constructive role in ceasefire implementation once conditions permit in line with Resolution 2808. The Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework continues to provide a comprehensive platform for addressing the root causes of instability in the Great Lakes region. Its commitments relating to dialogue, cooperation, and confidence building remain essential for advancing regional stability. The illicit exploitation and trafficking of critical natural resources also remain a structural driver of instability in the eastern DRC. Addressing these issues requires strengthened regional cooperation, transparency in supply chains, and effective implementation of existing regional mechanisms, including those of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, to ensure that natural resources become a source of shared prosperity and not conflict and chaos for the people of the DRC. President, if you allow me, I'd like to go back to the briefing of the Special Envoy. We appreciate and support your efforts We can understand, you know, his sense of regret that while diplomacy has intensified, the humanitarian and security situation has not improved on ground. And he has rightly highlighted the complexity of the challenge and the regional and historical dimensions and therefore the need for regional mandate complementing the country-specific mandate of MONUSCO. And his appeal also to the parties to build trust and to seize the opportunity for durable peace makes all the more sense. And we have said this before in the Council, it is not very often that so much of international attention and diplomatic efforts are galvanized around the situation. And that also has the strong support of this Council. We must fully avail ourselves of this diplomatic window. In this context, Pakistan reaffirms its strong support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. And we reiterate our commitment to advancing lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes region. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Pakistan for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia.

President, I'd like to thank the special envoy of the Secretary General for the Great Lakes region, Mr. Huang Xia. I thank him for presenting his latest report. Likewise, we thank the Executive Director of UN Women, Ms. Sima Bahous, for her statement. I greet the delegations joining us in our meeting today. Peace is urgently needed in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to ensure the stability of the entire Great Lakes region. Colombia reaffirms its appeal to the parties to uphold the commitments they have agreed to and to fully respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference, good neighbourliness and regional cooperation, in line with the United Nations Charter. We are concerned to see the persistent cycles of violence. Their effects are felt most severely by the civilian population that is subjected to forced displacement, grave human rights violations, gender-based violence, and, increasingly, conflict-related sexual violence. We remind all the parties of their obligation to strictly comply with international humanitarian law and to guarantee civilian protection. Colombia echoes the Special Envoy's appeal to strengthen consistency, complementarity and coordination between the various peace initiatives under a clear regional approach. In addition, We agree that the United Nations' readiness to provide political and technical support must be accompanied by sustained commitment by the States themselves to address the root causes of the instability and to make decisive headway towards the full revitalization of the peace, security and cooperation framework. In this regard, my delegation is of the view that the challenges to peace in the region call for a comprehensive approach. And we wish to stress four points here. First, strengthening civic space and ensuring the protection of safe, free, and inclusive political dialogue. Fostering democratic debate can prevent and counter hate speech and disinformation, which only serve to entrench social divisions and to fuel cycles of violence. Second, raising the voice and the full, equal, safe and meaningful participation of women at different levels of decision making, including the role of the African Union's women facilitators and female community level leaders. Including women in all processes contributes to translating agreements and resolutions adopted by this Council into tangible action on the ground. Third, efforts must continue to involve young people in peacebuilding and economic empowerment initiatives. In contexts of armed conflict, young people on the cusp of adulthood often find themselves caught in the gap between protection frameworks for children and policies geared towards the adult population. This situation stymies their development prospects and leaves them more exposed to risks such as recruitment, radicalization, and harassment, which all fuel conflict. 4. The responsible, transparent and sustainable management of natural resources is a duty incumbent on the entire international community. The illicit exploitation of minerals continues to fuel violence and weaken governance. Hence why promoting traceability the good management of resources, and ensuring tangible benefits for local communities is key to severing the link between natural resource extraction and financing for illegal armed groups. President, in this context, Colombia commends the good offices of the Special Envoy's Office, and we thank them for their comprehensive and regional approach, in particular their encouragement for the women, peace and security and the use peace and security agendas, as well as for promoting a responsible, transparent and sustainable management of natural resources. We invite the Special Envoy to continue his work for a lasting peace in the Great Lakes region, leading to stability, development and better living conditions for its populations. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Colombia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Latvia.

Thank you, Madam President. I thank the Special Envoy, Heng Hsi, for his briefing, as well as for his efforts to advance peace and cooperation in the Great Lakes region. And I also thank Executive Director Seema Bahous for her briefing, highlighting the decisive role of women in building peace. welcome the participation to the representatives of Rwanda and Angola in this meeting. Madam President, I'll make three points. First, the signatories of the peace, security and cooperation framework of the DRC and the region have committed to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighboring countries and to neither tolerate nor aid armed groups. More than a decade later, this commitment is as relevant as ever. Peace in the eastern DRC remains elusive. Like this supports the US, Qatar, and the African Union-led peace processes. And we note the resumption of talks between the DRC government and AFCM23 under the Doha framework. Yet as the special envoy here underlined, despite the diplomatic efforts in practice, the security and humanitarian situation is worsening. And we call on Rwanda to cease its support for M23 and withdraw its troops from the DRC. And for the FDLR to be neutralized. Resolution 2773 must be fully implemented. All parties must engage in good faith and honor their commitments. And most urgently, hostilities must cease and ceasefire must be implemented. We also reiterate our support for the Secretary-General's proposed conditions-based approach for MONUSCO's support to ceasefire implementation in North and South Kivu, in line with the resolution 2808. And it is the responsibility of all parties to enable those conditions. Second, for years, the conflict in the Eastern DRC has subjected the Congolese people to unspeakable atrocities. Women and girls experience the worst, as conflict-related sexual violence is systematically used as a weapon of war. And we insist all violations of international humanitarian law and human rights must be met with accountability. Regrettably, conflicts feed on themselves, especially in communities already ridden with tensions. Therefore, we are also concerned by the reports of surging hate speech in the context of the conflict in the eastern DRC. 7th of April marked the beginning of the 100-day commemoration period of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. we pay tribute to the victims and survivors. This dark page in the human history holds a lesson that one must never forget. Words can lead to violence and we urge to weigh words with care. It is important to speak up for truth and justice but hate speech, incitement to violence must be rejected. Third, Conflict in the Eastern DRC affects the whole region of the Great Lakes, increasing regional instability risks and humanitarian pressures, especially in relation to displacement. So unlocking peace in the Eastern DRC will benefit the wider region. At the same time, homegrown challenges also cannot be ignored. We are concerned about the reports of shrinking civic space in the countries of the Great Lakes region. particularly in electoral contexts and in effort to intimidate political opposition. I'm sorry, losing my voice. Peaceful, inclusive and sustainable development strives on meaningful participation of all groups of the society. We urge all countries of the region to uphold fundamental rights and freedoms, which is the core of democratic processes. We particularly encourage countries to meaningfully engage youth and women in political and peace processes And we welcome the positive developments for political participation of women in the region as described by Sima Bahous. And we support the Special Envoy's continued advocacy to that end. Madam President, the Great Lakes region holds immense potential and its people deserve to live in peace and build a prosperous future. That aspiration must be the guiding light for the decision makers in the region and for the international community supporting them. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Latvia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Madam President. We also wish to thank the Special Envoy, Juan Sia, and Executive Director, Sima Bahous, for their briefings. We welcome the participation in today's meeting of the representatives of Angola and Rwanda. The Great Lakes region remains a hostage of the crisis in the eastern DRC. The situation there remains an intractable regional problem and the main obstacle to the development of constructive, mutually beneficial relations between neighboring states. Several months ago, the escalation resulting from the M23's capture with external assistance, the M23's capture of Uvira in South Kivu bordering Burundi placed the region on the verge of an interstate armed conflict. This, as we recall, occurred merely hours after the pompous announcement of an agreement being reached on a package of peace -- the latest package of peace agreements between the DRC and Rwanda in Washington. Such developments, as is the case with everything we continue to see in the east of the DRC, clearly reflects the fact that international diplomatic efforts are failing to generate the sought-after results, nor are they helping to improve the situation on the ground. It is to our deep regret that the truce and the ceasefire remain dead letter. And it is clear that real progress in resolving the conflict will only be possible -- only be possible when the parties begin to fulfill the obligations that they assumed in good faith. We hope that the mediators, for their part, will undertake further efforts in order to ensure the implementation of the agreements arrived at with their participation. We take note of the resumption of discussions between the Government of the DRC and M23 within the Doha format, this time in Switzerland. The continuation of dialogue in and of itself is giving rise to cautious optimism. However, its trajectory and the magnitude of unresolved conflict for now, speaks to the fact that a long and thorny path lies ahead. Last February, as is known, the UN Security Council, in Resolution 2773, urged the parties to embrace political means for stabilizing the situation, which could be implemented without preconditions or unwieldy negotiations. However, both Kigali and Kinshasa effectively renounced demands for ceasing hostilities and ceasing support for illegal armed groups. regional diplomatic initiatives under the leadership of Prime Minister of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe, also are left without an appropriate response. We thank Mr. Gnassingbe and the group of mediators for their continuous efforts for the advancement of stabilization efforts in the Great Lakes region. We also support the work of our Angolan colleagues, which are geared towards establishing intra-Congolese dialogue. At the same time, we wish to emphasize the need for clear coordination amongst all peacekeeping initiatives on the eastern DRC and the importance of these efforts to be clearly focused on eradicating the root causes of the crisis in order to ensure long-term stabilization and resolution. We support the efforts of the Special Envoy on helping to support African mediation to rebuild constructive dialogue among all parties in the region. His mandate is of paramount importance for the revitalization of the Framework Agreement on Peace, Security and Cooperation, a key provision of which is designed to be the roadmap for regional cooperation. As for the Russian Federation, we will continue to work at the platform of this Council for the advancement of a political solution to the crisis in the Eastern DRC and for a long-term stabilization in the Great Lakes region. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for the statement. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Bahrain. At the outset, allow me to thank Mr. Wang

Xia, the Secretary General and Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, for his briefing and for his tireless efforts to enhance coordination among peace tracks. I also thank Ms. Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women and Under-Secretary-General, for her briefing. which places women's voices at the very heart of our discussions instead of putting them aside. We welcome the participation of representatives from Angola and Rwanda in today's meeting. This meeting takes place at a critical juncture. While the diplomatic track is advancing with promising strides, the reality on the ground remains dependent on persistent tensions that undermine the prospects for stability. In this context, we welcome the progress achieved across political tracks, particularly the Doha Track and the Washington Agreement, as well as the Ceasefire Monitoring and Verification Mechanism and the expanded Joint Verification Mechanism. We also welcome the mediation efforts led by the African Union and regional partners. They are fundamental pillars for consolidating regional coordination and paving the way towards sustainable peace. However, the Secretary-General's report clearly indicates that this progress continues to be offset by a disturbing deterioration on the ground, marked by ongoing military operations, the escalating activities of armed groups and the use of advanced combat capabilities, including drones, which exacerbate civilian suffering and threatens to undermine political progress. Excellencies, In light of this, the Kingdom of Bahrain wishes to underscore three key messages. One, implementation is the benchmark of credibility. We therefore call for the full implementation of commitments in good faith and without delay, the finalization of the remaining protocols within the Doha track, and the promotion of coordination among the various tracks to ensure their integration. We stress the need for the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2773, particularly the cessation of hostilities and the immediate withdrawal of the M23, along with all other armed groups, from all areas under their control in eastern DRC, thereby providing the necessary conditions for a ceasefire and restoring stability. Two. The protection of civilians is an urgent priority, particularly in light of the widespread displacement, escalating humanitarian needs, and grave violations, including sexual violence, currently witnessed in eastern DRC. This requires facilitating rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access and respecting international law, including international humanitarian law. Addressing the root causes is an urgent imperative and not an option. This entails curbing the proliferation of armed groups, combating the illicit exploitation of natural resources, and supporting disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs. Furthermore, the inclusion of women and youth in peace processes is not a supplementary element, but a fundamental prerequisite for the success of any sustainable settlement. The Secretary-General's report underscores the critical importance of enhancing their meaningful participation in political processes, thereby ensuring that solutions are more inclusive and responsive to the needs of local communities. We therefore welcome the efforts of the Office of the Special Envoy to promote the role of women and youth in peacebuilding processes. We reiterate that MONUSCO remains a fundamental pillar in supporting stability and should be fully empowered to implement its mandate, particularly regarding the protection of civilians and support for ceasefire mechanisms in line with resolutions 2773 and 2808. In conclusion, we stress that the path to sustainable peace lies in sincere political will, effective cooperation and coordination, and full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. Peace is not measured by what we sign, but rather by the impact we make in the lives of peoples. And the responsibility today lies not in agreeing on what ought to be done, but in commencing its implementation without delay. Thank you.

I resume my function as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of Angola.

Madam President, distinguished members of the Security Council. We would like to thank Mr. Wang Xia, Special Envoy of the Secretary General for the Great Lakes Region, for introducing the Secretary General's report. We commend his leadership and tireless efforts in advancing the implementation of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, and the Great Lakes Region, which remains a central instrument for promoting long-term peace and stability. We thank Mrs. Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, for her briefing. The security situation in the Great Lakes region continues to deteriorate, marked by warring proliferation of armed groups, fueled by distrust among communities. The conflict in eastern DRC remains a major source of regional tension. We acknowledge the various regional and international initiatives aimed at restoring trust and advancing peace in the region. Madam President, the Republic of Angola remains deeply concerned about the conflict situation in eastern DRC and its potential regional implications. We reiterate that a sustainable solution cannot be achieved by military means. In this regard, We underscore the importance of the full and verifiable implementation of commitments undertaken under the Doha Framework Agreement of 15 November 2025, the Washington Agreement of 4 December 2025, as well as relevant Security Council resolutions, including 2773 and 2808. These commitments are essential to restoring trust and ensuring the credibility of the peace process, which must also be inclusive and nationally owned. In this context, in line with regional and international efforts for peace in the DRC, His Excellency Joao Manuel Goncalo Lourenco, President of the Republic of Angola, has been actively engaging with the Congolese stakeholders to create conditions for an inclusive inter-Congolese dialogue aimed at achieving national reconciliation. This effort has resulted in the drafting of the terms of reference for a structured, transparent, and results-oriented dialogue, which have been submitted to the DRC authorities. We are also encouraged by recent developments, including the meeting between DRC and Rwanda held in Washington on 18 March 2026 to de-escalate tensions, as well as the Doha format meeting underway in Geneva to assess progress on the ground, including the work of the Ceasefire, Oversight and Verification Mechanism. Angola reaffirms its strong support to ongoing regional and international efforts to achieve a political and sustainable solution to the conflict in the DRC. We stress the importance of the enhanced coordination and coherence among all the mediation initiatives. guide by the principle of African solutions to African problems, and the role of His Excellency Faure Gnassingbe, President of the Council of Ministers of the Togolese Republic, in this capacity as the African Union mediator, in order to maximize synergies and avoid fragmentation. We call on the Security Council to ensure the full engagement of all concerned parties in the implementation of the agreements reached, and to preserve the progress made in the peace process. Finally, we underscore the importance of the meaningful participation of women and youth in peacebuilding efforts as key actors in promoting dialogue and national reconciliation. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Angola for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Rwanda.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Madam President, thank you again for giving me the floor and for convening this meeting. Thanks very much to Special Envoy for your leadership and for meeting regional leaders on this matter. Thanks to you and women for your comprehensive addition briefing to today's meeting. Council members, again, thank you for inviting Rwanda and for allowing Rwanda to participate to make its own contribution to a matter of concern as a member of the Great Lakes region. Madam President, Council members, as mentioned by a few Council members, this meeting takes place one week after we commemorated the genocide against the Tutsi right behind us in the G Hall. It was just last week. The perpetrators who committed this crime fled into DRC and remain active until today. Their continued presence was one of the central reason for the establishment of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework to address that matter among others. Madam President, Council Members, since 2013, Rwanda's position has remained clear and consistent. We have fully upheld our commitments under the framework in both letter and spirit, and have engaged constructively throughout all engagements. Our approach has been principled and aligned with the framework's core objective. addressing the root causes to achieve sustainable peace in our region. Yet, more than a decade later, the fundamental drivers of instability remain unchanged. This reflects not a failure in the framework itself, but a failure of implementation of the framework. Madam President, Council members, as consistently stated, Rwanda's security concerns and an ongoing existential threat remains the continued presence and tolerance of FDLR in DRC. This was before and after the signing of the framework. This group poses a direct threat to Rwanda and to regional stability. Its persistent presence contradicts commitment undertaken under the framework we are reviewing today. There can be no credible path to peace without its effective and irreversible neutralization. This issue has been consistently raised in our engagements with all special envoys, past and present, the Secretariat, the Security Council, and in all forums that are mediating for peace. Madam President, Council members, we are also witnessing, as mentioned, an escalating hate speech, ethnic targeting, and violence against Rundophone communities, including particularly the Banyamulenge people. The continued portrayal of these communities as foreigners, quote unquote, remains a matter of concern in the realization of the aspirations of the framework on peace and cooperation for our region. These realities point to a deep-rooted challenges that must be addressed directly. Sustainable peace cannot be built on avoidance. Madam President, Council Members, the framework is grounded in collective responsibility. Peace in DRC and peace in the region are inseparable. Selective implementation and selective accountability will not deliver results. We welcome ongoing efforts, including the ceasefire arrangements and the processes in Washington and Doha. Rana continues to support practical interim measures as well. including a call for a buffer or interposition force to stabilize the situation while political processes advance. Madam President, Council members, allow me to pose two questions Rwanda has consistently raised in all implementation discussions and in this Council. First, how do we explain that 13 years after this establishment and the signing of the framework, the root causes remain unaddressed, unchanged, including the neutralization of FDLR? Two, how do we account for persistence of hate speech, exclusion, and persecution of an entire community. Madam President, these issues remain unresolved. What basis do we have to expect a different outcome? Madam President, Council Members, after 13 years, the path forward is clear. The commitments are known. And what is required is full, consistent, and good faith implementation, and aligning the framework with other mechanisms to avoid fragmentation. Rwanda's commitment has remained unchanged since 2013. We remain engaged constructively and in alignment with the aspirations that were contained in the framework itself. But the success for the framework depends on all parties meeting the obligation fully and without exception. I said there is no military solution to this crisis. Only genuine return to the principles of the framework, accountability, cooperation, and mutual respect will remain and will deliver sustainable peace for our region. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Rwanda for the statement. The representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has asked for the floor. I give them the floor.

Thank you very much.

Madam President, I wish, if I may, first and foremost, to pay tribute to His Excellency, Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, for his ongoing sustained commitment for the advancement of peace in the DRC and in the region. And I also wish to thank the Special Ambassador, Wansyah, for today's briefing. I also wish to thank the Executive Director of UN Women, Madam Sima Bahous, for having shed light on the ordeal plaguing women and children in the area under the occupation of Rwanda and M23. My delegation would not have spoken at this juncture, especially after the Speaking of the A/20/3, whose statement we fully align ourselves with, and yet the statement that we have just heard leaves us with no other choice. I wish in my national capacity to deliver the following additional remarks. We have taken note of the Secretary-General's report on the implementation of the framework agreement. for peace, security, and cooperation in the DRC and the region, document S/2024/256, dating 31 March 2026.

And the following emanates therefrom, first and foremost, the situation in the DRC and in the region was punctuated by a number of diplomatic efforts at the international and regional levels. inter alia, with the oversight and verification mechanism for the ceasefire dating 14 October, the framework agreement of Doha dating 15 November 2025, the Washington accords dating 4 December, as well as the enhancement of the coordination of African-led peace efforts. I wish to emphasize the complementary nature of all of these processes. whose common ground is the full implementation of the relevant provisions of Security Council Resolution 2773 and Resolution 2808. Said resolutions firmly condemn the M23 offensive and the violence plaguing the east of the DRC, call for an immediate ceasefire, and demand the withdrawal of the M23, and demand that the Rwanda Defense Forces cease their support for the M23 and to withdraw from the territory of the DRC, while at the same time reaffirming the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC. All of these peace initiatives notwithstanding, we remain concerned, concerned in light of recent developments by the sincerity of Rwanda's commitment and the commitment of its auxiliaries who remain obstinate when it comes to trampling upon their commitments under the above-mentioned agreements. Does it even bear recalling at this juncture that during an interview with Jeune Afrique radio station, the Jeune Afrique media outlet, early April, and the national dialogue in February 2026, Rwandan authorities assumed responsibility for the presence of Rwandan troops in the east of the DRC. They called this indispensable defense measures. They denied the looting of natural resources in the DRC, and they refused to yield to what they deemed threats of international sanctions. And for this precise reason, all peace initiatives adopted at the regional and international level have remained dead letter.

And the same holds true for the peace plan emanating from the Luanda and the Nairobi processes. And these are processes whose implementation Rwanda deliberately blocked in order to gain time and to advance their outsize ambition to create in the DRC a zone of influence and to transform it into a settlement, a colony for exploitation and for settlement from which they would have access to and control over Congolese institutions. These operations by Rwanda are unacceptable. They undermine regional peace, and they are prohibited under the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement, to which the country freely signed on. Turning to my second point, the continuation of hostilities obstructs any the ongoing fighting obstructs any possibility of cessation of hostilities the gulf between diplomatic efforts and the reality and security related developments on the ground are clear the report highlights and rightly does so, the violence which is ongoing in the eastern DRC with an intensification of military confrontation, and condemns the territorial expansion of the AFCM 23. whose offensive launched in South Kivu in December 2025, is lambasted. This was just a few days after the signing of the Washington Accords. Therefore, my delegation wishes to reaffirm our profound concern in the light of the persistent hostilities in this eastern region. Once again, the AFCM 23, with support from the Rwandan forces, have been continuing to mount their offensive towards Uvira, thereby imperiling not just the security of the DRC, but also that of Burundi. a neighboring country and a signatory to the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement. In accordance with Resolutions 2773 and 2808 of the Security Council, AFCM-23 must cease hostilities and fully dismantle the illegitimate parallel administrations

that were set up in the east of the DRC.

The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC must be upheld. And yet, it is incumbent upon the Security Council as a responsibility for current escalation and the ongoing hostilities has been well established. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Security Council to adopt the appropriate measures to restore peace in that part of my country. At this juncture, I would invite you to note the fact that the situation has resulted in the displacement of more than 7 million Congolese. These are heartbreaking statistics. More than 70 percent of these people are women, girls, stripped of access to basic needs. These Congolese women have lost and all any shred of human dignity. Many of these women have endured the horrors of rape, sexual violence, and other inhumane, degrading treatment, specifically within the perimeters of the mining zones. President The position of the DRC remains unchanged. Rwandan troops must immediately leave the DRC and must do so without preconditions, as is clearly stipulated in Resolution 2773, which the Security Council adopted unanimously. Other spoiler-related activities of Rwanda in the Great Lakes region through its various proxies must also brought to an end, and this is necessary in order to bring about a lasting peace in that region. For my delegation, and let it be said, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC, which are enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, are non-negotiable. My country has been aggressed. and we will recover every square millimeter of our territory, which continues to be violated. Civilians in that part of the east continue to pay the highest price. Displaced women, displaced children, thousands of whom are being abused, sexual violence targeting women, targeting children. Children being stripped of access to schools, children being recruited into armed groups, forced to work in mines. There are attacks targeting humanitarian personnel, peacekeepers. These are unacceptable. Ongoing violations of IHL and human rights have been documented by the United Nations, and they are the daily lot of the people in the Great Lakes region. The DRC, in light of this reality, calls upon the Security Council to maintain maximum pressure on Rwanda and on its proxies, and to ensure enforcement of its decisions on the ground. Given this context, we wish to reaffirm our position, our position regarding the strengthening of the role of MONUSCO, vis-a-vis ceasefire monitoring in order to stabilize the situation in the DRC. And the same holds true for the Office of the Special Envoy in the Great Lakes. When it comes to addressing this conflict, which has been clearly identified as a regional conflict, the regional dimension of this conflict needs to be reaffirmed to ensure the best solution be provided. In my delegation's view, now is not the time to strip these two entities of adequate resources to ensure that their respective mandates are fully implemented. And there is a need to take the necessary measures to spare the country and the entire region from conflagration. The DRC and led by President Tshisekemb, a man of peace, will continue in good faith to advance diplomatic efforts to promote peace in the DRC and the Great Lakes region. From Doha to Washington, here at the Security Council, as well as at the African Union, the DRC will remain engaged in good faith to establish peace with all neighbors. The success of this approach requires that all signatories, all guarantors of the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement need to be motivated by the same spirit and the same determination for a peaceful, stable, prosperous Great Lakes. Madam President, when the representative of Rwanda mentioned the Rwandan genocide, 1994 genocide, you state that the genocide had perpetrators in the DRC. It seemed that they were talking, that the dimension, that this was talking about the Congolese, talking not about, they were talking not about the Congolese, but about the Rwandans. The FDLR, who are being talked about, are Rwandans who fled Rwanda, who returned to the territory of the DRC precisely because Rwanda has only two tribes clashing. In Rwanda, it is impossible for these two tribes to coexist peacefully, whereas in the DRC, there are 450 tribes, and they live in perfect harmony, coexist peacefully. So the genocidal ideology that Rwanda is attempting to disseminate in the DRC is incompatible with flies in the face of reality. And for this reason, we wish to state that this rhetoric, this narrative that they are unspooling is not beneficial for the DRC. Perhaps it is for the FDLR emanated from Rwanda. And at a certain point, an eminent Rwandan ambassador in a post in Kinshasa stated that the FDLR no longer posed a threat to Rwanda. And one should consider the statement of this eminent Rwandan ambassador. And today, they say FDLR. Tomorrow, they will talk about hate speech. And the subsequent day, they will again trot out a map talking about hate speech. You have a country armed to the teeth, a country moving to the territory of your country, massacring your women, massacring your relatives, massacring your children, and you are expected to welcome them? Where did that come from? Rwanda today is making it appear as if hate speech is more serious than the massacres and atrocities. How many Congolese people did they massacre since they occupied Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira? How many people were massacred by them? And you can compare that to hate speech. Hate speech is the consequence of the massacres which they are carrying out. Hate speech is not the root cause of the situation. They are the ones who are the root cause of this hate speech. Madam President, I would mention they mentioned the protection of the Rwandan speakers in Congo, the DRC. They mentioned the.. These are Congolese, not Rwandans. And simply because these Rwandan, these Congolese look like Rwandans, they think they have the right to enter Congolese territory to protect the Congolese. How is this possible? Where did we see this? Where a foreigner goes to your country and arrogantly says that your people need protection from my people, so I'll protect them. The truth is known, and it has to do with the exploitation of the natural resources of the DRC, and we will not allow this to occur. Rwanda today is occupying a mine, and Rwanda has become an exporter of coltan, which doesn't exist anywhere in Rwandan subsoil, but they talk about hate speech here. You, distinguished colleagues, you do not have the right to arrive to protect Congolese people on their soil. The DRC is strong enough to protect our own people, 450 tribes in our country. You only have two, and you cannot even manage the relations between them. You want to manage relations between 450 tribes? Please, have some modesty. Thank you. And I do apologize, Madam President, for speaking at length. I will not take the floor again.

I thank the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the statement. The representative of Rwanda has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I give them the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam President, and sorry for taking the floor again. We wouldn't wish to really take the floor. But I think the issue of hate speech has been raised by several members of this Council, and it's a responsibility of this Council to speak to that. And when we raise these issues, it's not because we are Rwanda, it's because we have the microphone. There are several people who cannot be speaking, who cannot have access to this microphone. So we raise it. Several other members also spoke to that. But it reminded me, Madam Chair, that during the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, an ambassador of Rwanda was in the same chair here. Could he deny what was happening in the country? So this is a serious matter, not for Rwanda alone, for every Council member here to take it very serious. During the signing of the cooperation framework 13 years ago, this matter was raised way before. In 1970s, maybe some of these histories outdate the speakers, the same issue was happening. In 1980s, the same issue was happening. We are lucky we have this microphone to speak to that truth. I am very sure that the special envoys, when they are speaking to regional leaders, they speak about this issue. When they speak about DRC, they speak about this issue. And in my statement, actually, I mentioned, maybe I spoke in English, which is a foreign language, but I say that those who committed genocide fled to DRC. It is in my statement. We must take this issue very serious, not as talking points, not for camera, very, very, very serious. We're dealing with the consequences of the tongue when the misuse of word is used. And I think so many members of this council spoke to that fact. Let it take very serious. We appreciate the ongoing efforts, regional efforts, and among the efforts, this issue is raised from Washington process to Doha process, to the cooperation framework, to the ICJR framework. This issue is on the table. So it's not about the size. It doesn't matter. It may be 100 times, it may be 200 times, maybe a million times, what matters is that a people is targeted. as a council, take it seriously. Again, as I said, in '94, an ambassador of Rwanda was seated in one of these seats, could deny exactly what was happening in the country. I thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Rwanda for the statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject. The meeting is adjourned.