Statement by Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Anna Evstigneeva at a UNSC Briefing on the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Madam President,
We thank the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, James Swan, for his briefing.
We regret to note that hostilities in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue unabated. Despite numerous agreements reached on paper, the parties continue to bank on military means. The political-diplomatic track, facilitated by external mediation, is yet to produce tangible results on the ground and, to a large extent, it serves merely as a smokescreen for continued hostilities. UN data on the number of civilians killed every day in North and South Kivu tragically evidences the obvious: the ceasefire is not working.
We are compelled to acknowledge that conflict is evolving, with a qualitative change in its military nature driven by the exponential use of strike drones. Civilians, medical and humanitarian workers, and UN staff members are falling victim to these attacks. On March 11, a UNICEF staff member was killed as a result of a drone strike on Homa. We are concerned by reports that foreign mercenaries, including those who have acquired combat experience in Ukraine, are being employed as drone instructors and operators.
A particular threat is posed by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group linked to international terrorist networks; its leaders are capitalizing on the escalation in the east of the DRC to step up their extremist activities. Addressing the threat posed by the ADF requires coordinated action at the regional level. We also stand ready to engage with our colleagues on the Security Council to facilitate efforts to combat this armed group, including through harnessing the mechanisms and expertise of the Council's specialized subsidiary bodies.
The path to overcoming the threat posed by extremists and stabilizing the situation in the eastern provinces lies in the implementation of the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2773, which calls for a cessation of hostilities and an end by all parties to the conflict of support for illegal armed groups.
This resolution sets out all the basic “self-evident truths” and defines practical steps needed to stop the bloodshed and suffering of the civilian population. The core elements of the understandings reached by the parties in Washington and Doha essentially reiterate the key provisions of Security Council Resolution 2773. As long as this Security Council resolution is ignored, civilians in eastern DRC will continue to die.
A meaningful breakthrough would be facilitated by reinvigorated regional peace efforts under the auspices of African Union mediators. The engagement of African diplomacy is essential, in particular, when it comes to what the UN Secretary-General identified as indispensable in his recommendations to the Security Council – namely creating conditions for the full-scale launch of the Doha-agreed Ceasefire Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, which is to be established on the basis of the Enhanced Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism.
A significant role in this mechanism is assigned to the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). However, the scope of the peacekeepers’ involvement is limited by the provisions of Security Council Resolution 2808. Clearly, given the ongoing hostilities, there can be no talk of expanding this mandate.
Any substantial changes regarding the Mission’s involvement in monitoring a potential ceasefire regime must reflect the actual situation on the ground. This also applies to the potential deployment of peacekeepers in South Kivu, which – we reiterate – would require a separate decision by the Council.
Attempts to interpret Security Council Resolution 2808 arbitrarily, including when it comes to negotiating the Mission’s budget, will lead nowhere. We believe it is essential to preserve the Security Council’s constructive engagement on the Congolese file.
As a permanent member of the Council, Russia will continue to contribute to the efforts aimed at resolving disputes among the countries of the Great Lakes region through dialogue.
Thank you.
