S/PV.7654 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to participate in this meeting. On behalf of the Council, I welcome His Excellency Mr. Raymond Tshibanda N’tungamulongo, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Maman Sidikou, Special Representative of the Secretary- General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2016/233, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I now give the floor to Mr. Sidikou.

At the outset, allow me to thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity personally to present to the Security Council the latest report (S/2016/233) of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and to brief members on the latest developments on the ground. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is at a pivotal moment. Elections should be held towards the end of the year, while political tensions are rising as the polls approach. The electoral process has long been at an impasse, with significant obstacles to be overcome in order to hold the elections. A credible dialogue among all political stakeholders remains essential in order to find a solution to the situation in which the electoral process finds itself and to avoid an escalation of tension. The risk of violence for us is real, unless the political differences are resolved. During his recent visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Secretary-General called on President Kabila, the Presidents of the two chambers of Parliament and members of the majority parties and civil society to engage constructively in a political dialogue that has the interests of the people at the centre. He highlighted the need to hold credible elections in line with the Constitution, with a view to consolidate the progress made in the country over the past decade. In that regard, we are working closely with the African Union and are supporting its efforts to facilitate a political dialogue with the support of regional and international partners. Updating the voter rolls continues to be a key element in holding credible elections. Progress in that area will make it possible to lift one of the existing obstacles. The support of MONUSCO will be necessary in revising the voter lists. Nevertheless, to limit the risks involved in its involvement, securing political consensus beforehand is essential. That would contribute to overcoming numerous impediments and would mark a first, crucial step in the efforts aimed at ensuring the holding of credible elections. (spoke in English) Another key message conveyed by the Secretary- General during his visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo was that of the importance of there being sufficient space for political activities and the exercise of public liberties for the credibility of any electoral process. Reports of increasing restriction of the democratic space, in particular with regard to members of the opposition, the media and civil society, are of concern. As set out in the report before the Council, the situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains highly complex, in particular in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, with the deterioration of the security situation in some areas. In the Beni area of North Kivu, the Allied Democratic Forces continue to carry out brutal attacks against civilians, the national security forces and MONUSCO. The Forces démocratiques pour la libération du Rwanda (FDLR) and the myriad Mayi-Mayi groups in North Kivu also remain a significant threat to civilians. I am concerned in particular about the situation in southern Lubero and Walikale territories, where fighting between newly emerged Mayi-Mayi groups and FDLR units has resulted in mass displacements of civilians and heightened tensions between local communities, with an increasing number of human rights violations over recent months. The rhetoric by some actors has become increasingly strong, and there is a real risk of escalation intercommunal conflict. The spate of kidnappings in areas formerly occupied by the Mouvement du 23 mars (M-23) in Masisi and Ituri territories is indicative of a lack of effective State presence in conflict-affected areas. Inter-ethnic tensions in Ituri province, fuelled by conflicts over land, large-scale displacements owing to the situation in North Kivu, and other population movements have again raised the possibility of serious violence in this area. Recent reported returns for former M-23 combatants to Masisi territory and other parts of the Kivus serve to underscore the urgent need to implement the Nairobi Declarations. The situation in part of South Kivu also remains fragile. In mid-February, Congolese security services discovered weapons caches in the Ruzizi Plain, near Uvira. The subsequent arrests of several Congolese and Burundians on charges related to the caches and participation in an insurrection movement, as well as the remobilization of an ethnic militia in Haut Plateau, are signs that the clashes in Burundi could destabilize South Kivu. MONUSCO has intensified efforts to approach the protection of civilians and the neutralization of armed groups as mission-wide priorities, with an added focus on non-military initiatives, including strong political advocacy, enhanced reporting and effective liaison with communities. MONUSCO has also begun developing tailored strategies to address the threat posed by armed groups. The Mission continues to work closely with Special Envoy Djinnit’s Office with a view to dealing better with the regional aspects. I would like to highlight the importance of renewing the partnership between the Government and MONUSCO if such threats are to be addressed more effectively. Since my arrival in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I have intensified my engagement with President Kabila himself, and he has indicated his willingness to enhance cooperation with MONUSCO and to re-engage in discussions on the joint development of an exit strategy for MONUSCO. President Kabila’s commitment to renewing the coordination of military operations, which resulted in January in a technical agreement between the Government and MONUSCO and in the recent resumption of greater cooperation in planning operations, has paved the way for improved cooperation. That is important, as MONUSCO will be more effective if challenges can be addressed in a spirit of close cooperation with the Congolese authorities and of mutual trust and confidence. Military cooperation offers a clear opportunity to significantly increase the military pressure on priority armed groups and protect civilians more effectively. The rate of surrender had risen in the past year, and that trend could continue in the coming months with a renewal of more coordinated military operations. A key priority for the coming year will be linking those efforts to a viable disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process in order to ensure that the military pressure leads to an eventual path to reintegration or repatriation. It will also be important to support those operations by managing weapons and explosives effectively. All United Nations support will be provided in accordance with the human-rights due-diligence policy. MONUSCO has put in place robust mitigating measures to ensure that our operations are able to effectively target armed groups while reducing the risk of human-rights abuses. The recent violence at the Kitona demobilization camp, which left two dead and several wounded, is a reminder of the need for careful planning and coordinated support for the return and reintegration of the more than 5,000 ex-combatants now in the national DDR programme. Coordinating advocacy for that phase of the programme with partners such as the World Bank will be a priority in the coming period. The planned resumption of coordinated operations between the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) and MONUSCO is an important part of a broader effort to renew and deepen our partnership with the Government, recognizing that a principled, transparent partnership is key to effective implementation of our mandate. МONUSCO and the Government took concrete steps in the context of the strategic dialogue aimed at developing an agreed exit strategy for MONUSCO, in line with resolution 2211 (2015) and taking into account the political and security realities on the ground. MONUSCO and the Government are discussing a framework for the exit strategy, laying out a conditions-based approach for the Mission’s further drawdown and eventual withdrawal. Working groups have been established to develop agreed-on criteria for measuring progress in that regard, and have already been working on that for the past 10 days or so. The process of force transformation is critical to establishing the conditions that will enable the Mission’s drawdown and eventual withdrawal. Conducted effectively, that process will ensure that MONUSCO exercises greater operational capability in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, even as the force’s overall numbers are gradually reduced. The core of the transformation is a more mobile and agile force based largely on the new rapid deployment battalions. The first of those arrived in the country last month and has already conducted rehearsal exercises. That approach, combined with increased aviation, surveillance and engineering capabilities, is designed to ensure enhanced responsiveness and the ability to implement a robust strategy for the protection of civilians in the coming period. I would also like to take this opportunity to stress the priority I have personally made of fully implementing MONUSCO’s zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse. The Mission has reviewed its overall strategy and introduced a new mechanism aimed at ensuring that such exploitation and abuse can be reported more easily, as well as a comprehensive network for responding to and assisting victims. Under my leadership, MONUSCO will take all possible steps to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, punish those responsible to the maximum extent possible and address the needs of victims and survivors. In conclusion, I would like to highlight four issues for the Council to consider as it finalizes MONUSCO’s new mandate. First, we need a credible and meaningful political dialogue to overcome the impasse in the electoral process. A strong message on the need for political consensus and an agreed-on, sustainable way forward will be important, while at the same time emphasizing the link between a credible electoral process and support for fundamental human rights. It will also be particularly important to identify clear and realistic conditions under which the United Nations could support a revision of the voting registry, which we believe would help enhance the process’s credibility and prevent the issue from becoming another obstacle to timely elections. Secondly, I am optimistic that we can capitalize on the spirit of enhanced cooperation with the Government to make rapid progress on the priority armed groups, through improved cooperation between the Mission, the Government and the FARDC, and with the support of other partners. Neutralizing armed groups goes beyond military operations and will require improved efforts to extend the State’s authority and find durable solutions for former combatants. Thirdly, I count on the Council’s support to the Secretary-General’s recommendation to draw down an additional 1,700 military personnel. The recommendation takes into account the Mission’s plans to transform the force and to take measures to address inefficiencies. Going on the projected capability and efficiency gains that the force transformation will bring, the assessment has been made that we can contemplate a further reduction in MONUSCO’s military personnel without compromising the Mission’s ability to implement its mandate to protect civilians, including by neutralizing armed groups. As outlined in the Secretary-General’s letter of 16 December (S/2015/983) and the report before the Council today, the recommendation should be viewed as a concrete step forward in facilitating the strategic dialogue between the Mission and the Government, with a view to achieving a common goal — a gradual and progressive exit for MONUSCO that preserves the gains and investments made so far. Fourthly, military pressure will result in a sustainable outcome only if there is an effective, well-planned and nationally led DDR process that ensures that ex-combatants are processed back into their communities or countries of origin, while also ensuring that hazardous war materials are removed and stabilization efforts intensified. The Government has begun planning for the reinsertion and reintegration of thousands of demobilized ex-combatants in their home communities, efforts that should be commended and built on. (spoke in French) Lastly, it will be important to recognize the progress made by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on ending the recruitment of children into the armed forces and implementing the national plan aimed at combating sexual violence. I would like to thank the members of the Council and all Member States for their continued active support to MONUSCO. I also want to express my appreciation to the staff of MONUSCO and the United Nations who work in difficult and sometimes dangerous circumstances in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

I thank Mr. Sidikou for his briefing. I now give the floor to Minister Tshibanda N’Tungamulongo.

I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.