Briefing Security Council, Special Envoy Expresses ‘Real Hope’ for Ceasefire in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Citing Diplomatic Progress
A senior United Nations official told the Security Council today that there is “real hope” for a ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, outlining several key priorities, including addressing the root causes of conflict, such as illegal resource exploitation and weak governance.
“Significant developments have occurred at the diplomatic level” since his last briefing in April, said Huang Xia, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region. “There has been real hope generated for a ceasefire that could pave the way for a lasting and definitive resolution” to the conflict between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, he added.
The Council had before it the Secretary-General’s latest biannual report on the implementation of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region, which covers the period from 28 March to 15 September (document S/2025/615).
In his briefing to the 15-member organ, the Special Envoy highlighted the United States’ facilitation of a peace agreement between the warring parties, signed on 27 June, and Qatar’s efforts that led to the Doha Declaration and a prisoner exchange mechanism. Mr. Huang expressed hope that talks between the Congolese authorities and the 23 March Movement (M23) would resume soon and result in a comprehensive peace agreement.
He reported that, under the African Union’s guidance, regional processes have been streamlined, including the merger of the Nairobi and Luanda processes. A joint technical secretariat is being established in Addis Ababa to support these efforts.
While all these African and international peace efforts are commendable and promising, they have not yet fulfilled their promises, he observed, noting that the agreed ceasefire has not been respected. After a brief lull, he added, the parties to the conflict strengthened and resumed military operations. The humanitarian situation remains dire; humanitarian access continues to be limited, serious human rights violations persist and population displacement has worsened.
Against this backdrop, Mr. Huang outlined four key priorities: an immediate and unconditional ceasefire; support for implementing peace agreements; unified and effective African mediation; and addressing structural causes of conflict, such as resource exploitation and governance weaknesses. The Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework remains a key tool for accountability. He also stressed the importance of women’s participation in peace processes and called for renewed multilateral commitment to achieve lasting stability in the region.
However, “all of our actions, all of our resolutions, will only bear fruit on the ground if the parties themselves are ready to make peace,” he emphasized, urging the main stakeholders — namely the fraternal countries in the region — to resume direct and frank dialogue and to adopt all necessary measures to end the war once and for all.
Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda Exchange Differing Views
The representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo recalled that Council resolution 2773 (2025) stipulates that Rwanda must cease its support for M23 militias and withdraw immediately from Congolese territory without any conditions, cautioning that recent developments raise serious doubts about Kigali’s sincerity and that of its proxy forces. The international community must hold all parties to their word, he said, stressing: “[The Democratic Republic of Congo] must no longer be the only country in the region honouring its commitments.”
The representative of Rwanda requested the United States to consider briefing the organ on progress being made in negotiations — “because that is what will help the Council to sufficiently support the process”. “We have agreed, between [Rwanda] and [the Democratic Republic of the Congo] on how to resolve our differences, and we request the Council to support us in that process,” he said. Underscoring that Rwanda will implement its commitments within the agreed framework, he urged that the Council “not intervene in a way that may complicate that process”.
France’s delegate said that the involvement of the Council and regional and international partners is essential to urge parties to honour commitments made under the 27 June agreement. In that regard, his country will organize a conference in Paris on 30 October to support peace and prosperity in the Great Lakes region, co-chaired with Togo, mediator of the African Union.
The representative of the United States expressed his country’s commitment to implementing the peace agreement, which he said “President [Donald J.] Trump is proud to have facilitated”. Washington, D.C., fully expects the timely and full implementation of the agreement to advance peace, stability and prosperity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the broader Great Lakes region. “The United States will hold accountable spoilers to peace,” he declared, urging Council members to do the same.
Views on Root Causes of Conflict
“Peace will not be durable unless the causes for recurring violence are addressed,” observed the representative of Slovenia. Her counterpart from Panama underlined the intersection between conflict, natural resources and climate change as worsening the situation. He warned that droughts, unpredictable rainfall and soil degradation increase pressure on subsistence farming communities, intensifying local disputes over land and water. Illicit mineral trafficking chains continue to finance armed groups and undermine State legitimacy. On that, Pakistan’s delegate said that transforming the region’s mineral wealth into shared prosperity is essential to breaking the cycle of conflict in the region.
China’s delegate said that the root causes of conflict in the Great Lakes region are deeply intertwined and closely related to the historical demarcation of Africa by colonial Powers. In that vein, pursuing military alternatives will not resolve the root causes of the crisis, added the Russian Federation’s representative, stressing the importance of unlocking the region’s economic potential and overcoming the painful legacy of the colonial era.
Dire Humanitarian Situation
The representative of the United Kingdom was among those highlighting the dire humanitarian situation in the region, noting her country’s contribution of about $800 million in life-saving assistance this financial year. Similarly, the Republic of Korea — “building upon our support of $200 million provided in 2024 in the Great Lakes region” — will continue supporting “various development cooperation programmes”, its delegate said.
Caution against Sexual Violence
Many speakers warned against sexual violence in the conflict. Greece’s representative drew attention to “large-scale recruitment and use of children, abductions, killings and maiming and shocking levels of sexual violence”. Denmark is “appalled” by the levels of sexual and gender-based violence occurring at “a time of rapidly declining funding to organizations working to provide services to survivors”, said its delegate. The representative of Sierra Leone, also speaking for Algeria, Guyana and Somalia, demanded that the appalling use of sexual violence end immediately.
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