UNSC Briefing and Consultations on MONUSCO Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ambassador Harold Agyeman

Ambassador Harold Agyeman
Ghana’s Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
September 28, 2023

 

Monsieur le Président,
1. J’ai l’honneur de faire cette déclaration au nom des A3. Je remercie Mme Bintou Keita, Représentante spéciale du Secrétaire général pour son travail vraiment remarquable à la tête de la MONUSCO. Je remercie également Son Excellence l’Ambassadeur Michel Xavier BIANG, notre frère, pour sa déclaration très éclairante sur les activités du Comité 1533 concernant la RDC. Je salue vivement la participation à cette réunion de Son Excellence Monsieur Christophe LUTUNDULA APALA, Vice Premier Ministre, Ministre des Affaires Etrangères de la République Démocratique du Congo. Je salue également la présence du distingué représentant du Rwanda, Son Excellence Ambassadeur Claver Gatete. Notre déclaration d’aujourd’hui portera sur la situation politique, sécuritaire et humanitaire en RDC.

 

Mr. le Président,
The A3 are deeply concerned about the situation in the DRC, at a critical moment when the people of the sister country are preparing themselves for the upcoming general elections. In that connection, on the political front, we commend the progress made in the preparation for general elections, including the implementation of the electoral calendar. We welcome the convening of the electoral college and the opening of candidacies on September 9. In this context, we encourage the Congolese authorities to continue to take all necessary measures to guarantee security, transparency, inclusiveness, respect for human rights, freedom of expression and opinion throughout the electoral process. We welcome the start of the last session of both chambers of Parliament on September 15, 2023, which will notably allow for the examination of the 2024 budget and the examination of the laws of urgent reforms.

 

Mr. President,
On the security front, we condemn in the strongest terms, the cycle of violence and terror perpetuated by armed groups on the Congolese territory, in particular by the major armed groups – ADF, CODECO, M23 and FDLR. We strongly denounce the continued abuses against civilian populations and the predation and plundering of the DRC’s natural resources. We invite all partners to provide financial, material and technical support to the DRC in the implementation of the P-DRCCS, security sector reform, training and capacity building of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC). The A3 commend the invaluable contribution of MONUSCO and the EAC in their efforts to stabilize and protect civilian populations as well as the determination of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to contribute to peace efforts in the country.

 

We must express our concern over anti-MONUSCO and EACRF sentiments and disinformation and misinformation campaigns, which negatively impact the implementation of their mandates. The violence that took place in Goma on 31 August is unacceptable. Therefore, we encourage the Congolese authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure justice for the families of the victims. We take note of the Congolese authorities’ request for the Security Council to accelerate the withdrawal of MONUSCO troops from 31 December 2023. We stress the need for close cooperation between the Congolese authorities and MONUSCO, as well as with all other relevant stakeholders, with a view to a smooth, orderly, progressive and coordinated withdrawal that guarantees the protection of civilians and the safety and security of the personnel of the Mission. In terms of regional level engagements, the A3 reiterates their support for a political resolution of the security crisis affecting eastern DRC. We reaffirm our full commitment to the Nairobi and Luanda regional processes, which are credible African political solutions to end the crisis and thus deserve the support of the international community as a whole.

 

In this regard, it is urgent to implement the priority actions contained in the Nairobi and Luanda agreements, with a view to the cessation of hostilities and the immediate withdrawal of armed groups from the occupied areas. We further call on the repatriation of all foreign armed groups. We urge that all local armed groups must join Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization programme (PDDRCS). We welcome the decision to renew the mandate of the EACRF status-of-forces agreement until 8 December 2023 and welcome the establishment of a working group to coordinate peace initiatives in eastern DRC.

 

Mr. President,
For 25 years now, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been going through a security crisis that has claimed the lives of more than 10 million people. The meetings of this Council have been held for years, but despite our constant calls, the security and humanitarian situation of the civilian population, with emphasis on women and children, continues to deteriorate. This was self-evident on the occasion of the Security Council´s visit to the DRC last March, during Mozambique´s presidency of the Council. Generations are being sacrificed by continuing incidents of violence and terror. Child labor and rape as a weapon of war are still rampant, posing a threat to the Great Lakes region and to international peace and security, at large.

 

Mr. President,
We strongly believe that the DRC is endowed with immense natural resources, including resources crucial for the world’s energy transition. The country must be freed from its limitations to resolve the contradiction between the extreme wealth of the Congolese soil and subsoil and the extreme poverty of the populations. We note that notwithstanding the measures taken by this Council and the International Community, the humanitarian situation remains dire. In the east of the country, there are 6.1 million internally displaced persons and nearly 4.4 million children aged 9 to 14 who are out of school. This humanitarian catastrophe is exacerbated by the consequences of climate change, which has a palpable impact on security in Central Africa. In this regard, the A3 urge all partners in the DRC to mobilize funds for the financing the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan.

 

In conclusion, Mr. President, the A3 call on the international community to continue supporting the current efforts for peace and stability in the DRC. We also reaffirm our unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC.

 

I thank you, Mr. President!