The representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo welcomed the completion of the first phase of MONUSCO’s three-phase departure on 25 June. This disengagement was possible thanks to collaboration between the Government and MONUSCO, despite certain logistical and security challenges, he said, highlighting his Government’s efforts to consolidate the State’s authority in South Kivu to prevent any security vacuum. However, he stressed that — due to Rwanda’s continued aggression in North Kivu — the next withdrawal phase will be addressed when conditions permit. On the indiscriminate and deliberate bombings perpetrated by the troops of the Rwandan army and their M23 proxy, he pointed out that these attacks have been sufficiently documented and brought to the Council’s attention on numerous occasions. Nevertheless, “the Council remained silent” and this silence has encouraged Rwanda and its M23 proxies to continue their destabilization of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region, aggravating an already chaotic humanitarian situation.
He emphasized that the deployment of Rwandan soldiers on the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Rwanda’s alliance with the M23 terrorist group to destabilize the country, constitute severe violations of the Charter of the United Nations. “It appears that Rwanda has been guaranteed impunity and enjoys a blank cheque thanks to its participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations as one of the troop-contributing countries”, he observed. Since 2022, the RDF and M23 have repeatedly attacked MONUSCO and the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo positions, as well as helicopters, leading to the deaths of several peacekeepers. “These attacks constitute war crimes”, he asserted, urging the Council to act, stressing that the much-desired cessation of hostilities and de-escalation will not be possible as long as Rwanda and its M23 allies continue to fuel the fire and the Rwandan leaders fail to respect their commitments within the framework of the Luanda process.
Against this backdrop, he requested the Council to ask the Secretary-General and MONUSCO to grant substantial logistical and operational support to the SADC Mission; define a sanctions regime applicable to Rwanda and its leaders; sanction the Rwandan State, its leaders and all legal entities or individuals involved in this aggression, war crimes, crimes against humanity and serious violations of human rights committed by the RDF and the M23 on his country’s territory; demand the unconditional withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; suspend all participation of Rwandan troops in UN peace operations and decree an arms embargo against it until the end of its support for the M23 and the total withdrawal of its army from his country’s territory; and denounce and sanction the involvement of the Rwandan authorities in the illegal exploitation of his country’s natural mining and agricultural resources.
The representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, retaking the floor, said that nationals from other countries — including Angola, Gabon, South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi — are living in his country’s territory. “It is absurd to believe that we would only persecute the Rwandan nationals”, he stressed. Rwanda “is an invader, and the Council knows that this military aggression must be repulsed and pushed back by the international community”, he said, asking the country “to go back home”. As long as they remain in Congolese territory, “any discussion will be very difficult”, he added.