S/RES/2773(2025) SC

United Nations S/RES/2773 (2025) Security Council Distr.: General 21 February 2025 Resolution 2773 (2025) Adopted by the Security Council at its 9865th meeting, on 21 February 2025 The Security Council, Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including resolution 2765 (2024) and the press statement of 26 January 2025 on the situation in eastern DRC, Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC and emphasizing the need to respect fully the principles of non-interference, good-neighbourliness and regional cooperation, and condemning any violation of the territorial integrity of the DRC, Stressing the primary responsibility of the Government of the DRC for ensuring security in its territory and protecting its civilians with respect for the rule of law, international human rights law and international humanitarian law, Reiterating that there can be no military solution to the situation in the eastern DRC, Reaffirming the importance of all Member States adhering to the UN Charter, including the principle of refraining from the use of force against the territorial integrity of any state, and reiterating its expectation that Member States should not act in a way that prevents implementation of a United Nations peacekeeping mission’s mandate, Reiterating its deep concern regarding the rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC due to the ongoing offensive in North -Kivu and South-Kivu, including the control of Masisi center on 4 January 2025, of Sake on 23 January 2025, of Goma on 28 January 2025, of Nyabibwe on 5 February and of Bukavu on 14 February by the 23 March Movement (M23) with the direct support and participation of the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), Expressing its deep concern regarding the continued reports of serious violations of international humanitarian law and of violations and abuses of human rights law, including by the M23 and other armed groups, expressing further concern over allegations of high levels of sexual and gender-based violence, as well of violence fuelled by hate speech, misinformation and disinformation and calling for all perpetrators to be held accountable, and expressing deep concern regarding reports of an increasing number of forcibly displaced persons in eastern DRC caused by the advances of the M23, 25-03000 (E) *2503000* S/RES/2773 (2025) Welcoming the regional efforts including by the African Union (AU), the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), in particular the expedite convening of high-level meetings and the efforts under Luanda and Nairobi mediation processes, as well as the efforts by the United Nations Secretary General to restore peace and security in Eastern DRC, Underscoring the need to address the root causes of the conflict, including the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the eastern DRC, Reiterating its call on all parties to cooperate fully with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) and to remain fully committed to the full and objective implementation of the Mission’s mandate, reiterating its strongest condemnation of attacks against peacekeepers and paying tribute to all peacekeepers who risk their lives, Strongly condemning attacks against bases and personnel of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), and paying tribute to SAMIDRC personnel who risk their lives to contribute to peace and security in eastern DRC, Calling upon parties to provide a safe environment for civil society organisations and human rights defenders to enable them to carry out their work freely, including by cooperating with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms, and to protect them from threats and reprisals, Recalling obligations under international law to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic premises against any intrusion or damage, Determining that the situation in the DRC constitutes a threat to international peace and security in the region, Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, 1. Strongly condemns the ongoing offensive and advances of the M23 in North-Kivu and South Kivu with the support of Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), their control of the city of Goma, the capture of the airport and main entries of Goma on January 28, and of Bukavu on February 14 2025; 2. Decides that the M23 shall immediately cease hostilities, withdraw from Goma, Bukavu and all controlled areas, including land and lake routes, and fully reverse the establishment of illegitimate parallel administrations in the DRC territory, and that this withdrawal shall not be impeded; 3. Reiterates its urgent call for all parties to conclude an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as called for by the EAC and SADC Heads of State, welcomes the DRC statement calling for its immediate implementation, supports efforts by the AUPSC and EAC-SADC to this end including by taking into account the situation in Bukavu, calls for them to work closely with MONUSCO regarding ceasefire implementation, and stands ready to consider a possible role for MONUSCO in the implementation and monitoring upon finalization of a ceasefire agreement; 4. Calls on the Rwanda Defence Forces to cease support to the M23 and immediately withdraw from DRC territory without preconditions; 5. Strongly urges the DRC and Rwanda to return without preconditions to diplomatic talks as a matter of urgency to achieve a lasting and peaceful resolution of the protracted conflict in the region, supports all initiatives and contributions towards this objective, reaffirms the critical role of both the Luanda and Nairobi processes and the need to enhance coordination, harmonization and complementarity of the two 2/4 25-03000 S/RES/2773 (2025) processes, supports taking advantage of the progress made by the AU-designated mediator President João Lourenço under the Luanda process, urges both parties to fully and rapidly implement their commitments agreed under the Luanda process regarding the implementation of the harmonized plan for the neutralization of the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) and the disengagement of forces from the territory of the DRC, the implementation of the related Concept of Operations and the swift operationalization of the Reinforced Ad-hoc Verification Mechanism, stresses the importance of resuming political consultations under the Nairobi Process under the guidance of former President Uhuru Kenyatta to address the issue of armed groups, including the M23, operating in the DRC, and calls on the United Nations, through the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, in collaboration with MONUSCO, to continue providing support to these regional peace processes and strengthening diplomatic mediation efforts in the region; 6. Condemns support provided by DRC military forces to specific armed groups, in particular the FDLR, and calls for the cessation of such support and for the urgent implementation of commitments to neutralize the group; 7. Acknowledges the communiqués of the Heads of State and Government meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council on 14th February 2025 and of the AUPSC Ministerial meeting on 28 January, and supports the AU Commission’s call to urgently convene a Quadripartite meeting of the EAC, ECCAS, ICGLR and SADC; 8. Strongly condemns all attacks directed against the civilian population and infrastructure, including United Nations and associated personnel, humanitarian personnel, and medical personnel and facilities, summary executions and maiming, sexual and gender-based violence, human trafficking, and recruitment and use of children, and reiterates that perpetrators of violations of international humanitarian law and crimes and violations and abuses of human rights must be held accountable; 9. Expresses its readiness to consider additional measures, in accordance with resolution 2293 (2016), including against those who contribute to the continuation of the conflict in the eastern DRC; 10. Demands that all parties allow and facilitate, in accordance with relevant obligations of international humanitarian law and consistent with humanitarian principles, the full, safe, immediate and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel, equipment and supplies and the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to populations in need, as well as the restoration of basic services and essential infrastructure, including, healthcare, water, electricity and communications; 11. Calls on all parties to urgently open temporary humanitarian corridors in North and South Kivu for the resupply of essential humanitarian items and the free and safe movement of civilians, including humanitarian workers, and to ensure the immediate and unrestricted reopening of the airport in Goma, and that the Kavumu airport as well as border crossings remain open to allow for voluntary and safe movement of civilians, including for the access and medical evacuations of injured civilians and humanitarian workers; 12. Calls upon all parties to refrain from any violence against civilians and to respect the civilian and humanitarian character of refugee camps and sites for internally displaced persons and stresses the need to prevent any forced recruitment of individuals, and any recruitment or use of children; 13. Reaffirms its full support to MONUSCO in the implementation of its mandate, in particular the protection of civilians, commends in this regard the tireless efforts of all MONUSCO contingents, particularly in and around Goma, and encourages the continuation of their efforts; 25-03000 3/4 S/RES/2773 (2025) 14. Emphasizes that any attempts to undermine MONUSCO’s ability to implement its mandate will not be tolerated, stresses that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and that planning, directing, sponsoring or participating in attacks against MONUSCO peacekeepers constitutes a basis for sanctions designations pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolutions, and further demands that all parties immediately cease all hostilities against peacekeepers, take all appropriate measures to ensure their safety and security, their freedom of movement as well as the unimpeded implementation of their mandates and the unimpeded return of MONUSCO’s personnel to Goma; 15. Demands the cessation of GPS jamming and spoofing and deployment of surface-to-air missiles, capacities and of any other threat to the air operations of MONUSCO, to SAMIDRC and humanitarian actors; 16. Condemns the systematic illicit exploitation and trafficking of natural resources in eastern DRC, calls for renewed efforts to restrict illegal labelling and ensure the transparency and traceability of mineral exports and urges all companies operating in mineral sector, including importers, processing industries, commodity traders and consumers of Congolese mineral products, to exercise due diligence in line with paragraphs 8 and 9 of Security Council resolution 1952 (2010), including by implementing the Regional Certification Mechanism of the ICGLR; 17. Emphasizes the primary responsibility of the Government of the DRC to reinforce State authority and governance in Eastern DRC and reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 18. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. 4/4 25-03000