STATEMENT BY BINTOU KEITA, SPECIAL REREPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFING on MONUSCO
New York
28 SEPTEMBER 2023
(spoke in French)
First of all, allow me to express my thanks to the Security Council for this opportunity to present the report (S/2023/691) of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I welcome the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Permanent Representative of Rwanda and Ms. Anny Modi, Executive Director and co-founder of AFIA MAMA.
Since my previous briefing (see S/PV.9298), insecurity has continued to permeate the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The situation remains volatile and still requires continued efforts to protect civilians. The crisis created by the Mouvement du 23 mars (M-23) continues to fuel frustration and anger among the population, as well as the tensions between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.
In North Kivu, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has continued to deter attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Beni, Eringeti and Bwana Sura. In the southern area of the province, the ceasefire between the Congolese armed forces and the M-23 has been generally respected, but the fighting between the M-23 and armed groups allied with the Government has intensified. The M-23 still controls strategic communication points in the territories of Masisi, Rutshuru and Nyiragongo, and has even reoccupied previously liberated areas, without fulfilling any of the obligations agreed in the Luanda road map.
The M-23 notably blocked MONUSCO missions in Rumangabo, Rutshuru territory, intended to prepare the site identified for its pre-cantonment. I deplore that obstruction and renew my call on the M-23 to lay down their weapons and withdraw without delay from the occupied territories, as well as my call to the signatory States to the Luanda road map to fully support the process.
In Ituri, insecurity continues at an alarming level, fuelled mainly by the Coopérative pour le développement du Congo (CODECO), Zaire and ADF militias. Djugu and Irumu are the main hotbeds of insecurity. MONUSCO has repelled numerous attacks against civilians. The coordination of operations against armed groups has also been strengthened with the entry into service in July of the new Joint Operations and Coordination Centre for MONUSCO and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) in Bunia.
In South Kivu, despite notable progress, pockets of insecurity persist. The security situation in the province continues to require physical protection by MONUSCO for over 2,000 displaced people in Mikenge in Mwenga territory. Political efforts have also been deployed to reduce community tensions on the Ruzizi plain, the Uvira highlands and the Fizi territory.
(spoke in English)
All the security challenges that I have mentioned, particularly the ones in Ituri and North Kivu, have continued to fuel a dramatic humanitarian situation in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As I speak today, over 6 million people remain displaced in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. I commend the extension until the end of the year of the humanitarian scale-up to assist those populations and call on donors to continue to support the humanitarian response plan which remains underfunded. Against that backdrop and in collaboration with the Congolese authorities and security forces, MONUSCO has helped to ensure the safe passage of displaced people and establish several humanitarian corridors.
Within the humanitarian crisis lies another crisis: gender-based and sexual violence. More than 10,000 survivors of gender-based violence sought assistance in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri in the months of June and July alone. In addition to those official figures, there are many other individuals who are unable to reach treatment centres. In response to the acute risk of sexual violence in displacement sites, the Mission increased its joint patrols with the Congolese armed forces. The Congolese authorities have, for their part, closed numerous brothels in North Kivu. Those efforts need to be sustained and intensified to protect women and girls from conflict-fuelled abuse. Impunity for those crimes should not be allowed to prevail.
The humanitarian response and security efforts are critical but the conflicts in eastern Congo also require concerted political and regional solutions. To that end, peace processes have continued over the past months, although with reduced momentum. MONUSCO is committed to supporting regional political processes, which offer the only credible solutions to the current conflicts.
I am encouraged by the visit of Nairobi process facilitator former President Kenyatta to Goma in early July. Building on the momentum of the ceasefire between the FARDC and M-23, the confidence-building measures he recommended to move the Luanda road map forward should be operationalized and the recommendations of the third round of political consultations between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Congolese armed groups should be implemented.
Concurrently, the East African Community regional force mandate has been extended for three months and the Southern African Development Community has confirmed its intent to deploy a peace mission to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Regional organizations remain mobilized to address the enduring conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. We must encourage regional stakeholders to actively support the Nairobi and Luanda processes and ensure their bilateral and other deployments contribute to enhancing the protection of civilians, while coordinating their operations with MONUSCO.
(spoke in French)
Regional efforts will be able to achieve their objectives only if, in parallel, essential reforms of the Congolese security sector are adopted, financed and implemented. The Government’s decision to recruit 13,000 police officers in the run-up to the elections should also enable them to play a leading role in extending the State’s authority and strengthening the rule of law. I encourage the Congolese authorities to accelerate all the security sector reforms, including the feminization of the security sector, to enable the Congolese army and police to effectively respond to the challenges of insecurity in all its forms.
Similarly, the implementation of the Demobilization, Disarmament, Community Recovery and Stabilization Programme is an essential condition for stabilization. Three operational plans of the Programme have been adopted for Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. That is an important step in mobilizing the operational and financial resources required for its implementation. I also encourage the Government to ensure that the Programme remain attractive with a view to encouraging combatants to lay down their arms.
While the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to face security challenges in the east, the country is entering the final stages of preparations for the general elections in December. High-quality elections are essential to sustain the country’s democratic gains and institutional stability and to strengthen the foundations of lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I note the efforts made by the Congolese authorities and the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to adhere to the constitutional time frame. However, the rejection of all proposals from the political opposition forces and civil society to resolve the crisis of confidence is worrisome. In that context, it is also important for the Government to ensure that democratic spaces be protected, that freedom of expression and freedom of the press be guaranteed and that human rights be respected. I note the significant improvement in the freedom of movement of opposition leaders throughout the country over the past two months and the commitment of the authorities to ensure their security. That stance must be maintained throughout the process. In that respect, I encourage all political parties to unwaveringly fight against hate speech and discrimination within their ranks.
I deplore and condemn the various attacks and intimidation that hinder women’s participation in the elections. In that context, I commend the courage of women candidates, but regret that their candidacies have increased by only 6 per cent compared with the 2018 legislative elections, i.e. a total of 17 per cent of candidacies this year, compared with 11 per cent in 2018. The Congolese authorities, CENI, MONUSCO and United Nations agencies, supported by various partners, have helped to raise awareness and encourage those female candidacies. Numerous workshops aimed at increasing women’s participation in the political process have been organized by MONUSCO in Kinshasa, North Kivu, South Kivo and Ituri to support them.
MONUSCO, together with United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, such as the United Nations Development Programme and UNESCO, is actively supporting the Congolese National Police in securing the elections through training for the prevention of electoral violence, crowd management and respect for human rights. We encourage the Congolese authorities to urgently operationalize the institutional frameworks that will enable them to effectively and responsibly manage public order during the electoral period. MONUSCO remains available to provide logistical support to CENI in the three provinces in which it remains deployed, in accordance with its mandate.
(spoke in English)
I would like to underscore the importance of ensuring a conducive environment for the effective implementation of MONUSCO’s mandate and its responsible withdrawal from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Regrettably, the Mission continues to be targeted by misinformation and disinformation, as well as threats and attacks. I deplore the killing of civilians by national security forces on 30 August in Goma. I am hopeful that the trials currently under way will provide justice to the bereaved families of the victims, including one police officer, and will shed light on the circumstances surrounding that tragic event.
As Council members are aware, MONUSCO’s progressive departure from the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been under way for some time. During his address to the General Assembly, President Tshisekedi called for the acceleration of the process to begin in December 2023. With that request in mind, I call on the Council to make its position clear with regard to the recommendations set out in the 2 August report (S/2023/574) of the Secretary-General on the future of MONUSCO.
On 15 September, the Congolese authorities endorsed the revised transition plan for MONUSCO, which is an important step towards accelerating the departure of the Mission, while ensuring that the process is conducted in a gradual and responsible manner. We will now work jointly with the Congolese authorities towards the implementation of that plan, while continuing to deliver on the mandate provided by the Council.
(spoke in French)
In conclusion, I would like once again to thank all troop- and police-contributing countries and their personnel, as well as national and international civilian staff, for their invaluable support in implementing the MONUSCO mandate.