Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq briefed the Security Council today noting the progress that had been made by Iraqi forces in Mosul.  He said that in the foreseeable future, the liberation operations in Iraq are coming to an end and the days of Da’esh are numbered.

A report published today by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Human Rights Office details grave human rights abuses as well as serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in Juba during and after the fighting that occurred between 8 and 12 July 2016.

The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations briefed the Security Council today saying that the 31 December 2016 agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had contributed to defusing tensions there.  However, he noted that major efforts would need to be made to ensure all parties follow and implement the agreement.

The Security Council must continue to call on all political actors in the Democratic Republic of Congo to endorse the country’s new peace agreement, reached on 31 December 2016 under the auspices of the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo, stressed the United Nations peacekeeping chief as he briefed the 15-member body this morning.

Humanitarian colleagues in Iraq report that more than 133,000 people have been displaced due to ongoing operations in Mosul, which began in October.  Some 87 per cent have sought shelter in camps for internally displaced people.  To date, available camp space is still keeping pace with the rate of displacement.

Encouraged by the spirit of flexibility and compromise demonstrated by Congolese political leaders, the Security Council welcomed today the signing of a comprehensive and inclusive political agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 31 December 2016.

On 8 September 2016, the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo briefed the members of the Committee on his trip, from 1 to 6 August, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.

At its 50^th meeting, on 19 September 2014, the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict agreed, in connection with the examination of the fifth report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (S/2014/453), to address the following message through a public statement issued by the Chair of the Working Group: