UN Security Council hears dire report on escalating crisis in the DRC

Bintou Keita, the United Nations Special Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), delivered a sobering update to the Security Council, highlighting growing political tensions and worsening insecurity in the region. Keita reported escalating violence in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, where armed groups including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), M23, CODECO, and Zaïre continue to operate with devastating impact.

Speaking on the ongoing conflict, Keita stated, “The M23, a non-signatory of the ceasefire agreement, has consolidated its civilian and military occupation in North Kivu. Today, it controls vast areas in the territories of Masisi, Rutshuru, Walikale, Nyiragongo, and Lubero, a space twice as large as what it occupied in 2012.” She added that the ADF remains the deadliest armed group, responsible for hundreds of civilian deaths in recent months.

Keita also drew attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis, which has been exacerbated by climate change and multiple epidemics. “According to OCHA, almost 6.4 million people are currently displaced due to armed conflicts and natural hazards,” she said.

The session also addressed the future of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the importance of a strategic approach to the mission’s gradual withdrawal. “The renewal of MONUSCO’s mandate must imperatively reflect the regional dimension of the conflict while maintaining a conditional and responsible approach to its gradual withdrawal,” she noted.

Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ernest Rwamucyo, urged the international community to recognize the complexity of the crisis. “Framing this as intra-African hostility diminishes the complexity of the conflict and the roles of various actors involved. This is not a ‘Rwanda-DRC issue’ but a multifaceted crisis that demands nuanced understanding and coordinated action,” he said.

In a significant development, Mateus Luemba, Deputy Permanent Representative of Angola to the United Nations, announced plans for a tripartite summit between Angola, Rwanda, and the DRC. Scheduled for 15 December 2024 in Luanda, the summit will be held under the auspices of Angolan President João Lourenço. “This summit represents the culmination of a series of mediation initiatives aimed at achieving peace, stability, and economic development in the region,” Luemba said. He stressed that the success of these efforts would depend on the sustained support of all stakeholders, including the Security Council.

The Security Council session underscored the urgency of coordinated international action to address the deepening crisis in the DRC, with an emphasis on mitigating the security, humanitarian, and political challenges plaguing the region.