YouSaid · the spoken record

Empole

lines on the record: 215
first: 2013-10-21
most recent: 2021-12-06
sittings or episodes: 11
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“That decision has made it possible to achieve significant progress in the fight against resistant armed groups and the demilitarization of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Indeed, thanks to that measure, many gains have been made, including the neutralization and surrender of many elements of those armed groups, as well as the dismantling of several illicit trafficking networks smuggling arms and ammunition, minerals and food and non-food supplies to armed groups. My Government’s announcement of the state of emergency and its results to date are an opportunity we should seize by uniting our efforts to eliminate the negative forces and end once and for all the vicious circle of violence.”
2021-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8813 (2021) · source
“In that context, it is appropriate to note, in particular, the June signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda on locating Ugandan Allied Democratic Forces rebels, cross-border trade between the two countries and construction of a road from Uganda to the Democratic Republic of the Congo through Beni, inter alia. Three cooperation agreements were also signed between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, including an agreement on the promotion and protection of investments. On the security front, news in the country was dominated by the establishment of a state of emergency in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri by the Head of State on 3 May, as well as the appointment of military and police Governors and Vice-Governors in the two provinces.”
2021-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8813 (2021) · source
“With that approval and recognition by the elected representatives of the people, the Government was thereby authorized to implement the reforms included in its action programme, particularly in the areas of security, justice and administration, in order to improve the living conditions of the population and achieve sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the level of regional cooperation, the Head of State is pursuing his efforts to normalize relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries, both in the context of economic integration and in the quest for peace and security in the region.”
2021-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8813 (2021) · source
“Ritha Kibambe, Deputy Head of the Laboratory of Medical Biology at the Ngaliema Clinic, and appreciate her briefing to the Council. Allow me to make several remarks on some of the points addressed in the abovementioned report, primarily on the political, security and human rights situations, as well as on MONUSCO’s exit strategy. The political situation during the reporting period was characterized at the national level by the formation of the Union sacrée de la nation Government, the new political coalition that was set up on the initiative of His Excellency Mr. Félix Antoine Tshilombo Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That Government, led by the Prime Minister, His Excellency Mr. Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge, was invested by Parliament on 26 April following the approval of its action programme.”
2021-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8813 (2021) · source
“Mr. Empole (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (spoke in French): Before I begin, allow me to extend my delegation’s sincere condolences to the Government and the people of Haiti, as well as to the family of His Excellency Mr. Jovenel Moïse, President of the Republic of Haiti, in the wake of his assassination. We also wish his wife, who was injured, a swift recovery. Let me also congratulate you, Sir, on France’s presidency of the Security Council for this month. I welcome the report of the Secretary-General (S/2021/587), presented by his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Ms. Bintou Keita, whom I thank for her presence and sustained efforts for peace and security in my country. I also welcome the presence of Ms.”
2021-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8813 (2021) · source
“The foregoing are the observations that my delegation wished to share with the Council, but I did not want to end without paying tribute to Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalán, the two United Nations experts who died while carrying out their mandate. In conclusion, we thank all the members of the Security Council for their support for and assistance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s efforts aimed at achieving stability in the country.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“During this important transitional period, in which the country is preparing for the departure of MONUSCO in accordance with the agreed timetable, it is important for the security services to take over all the tasks that were previously carried out by MONUSCO. To that end, the Government is therefore called upon to assume its full responsibility for ensuring the security of the population and defence of the country’s territorial integrity. In order to fulfil to this major requirement, my Government would like to see the 1533 Committee begin to take the needed steps to lift the notification requirement imposed on my Government in relation to the importation of weapons. For my delegation, the measures requiring prior notification to the Committee under paragraph 5 of the resolution 1807 (2008) no longer effectively apply.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“Furthermore, with respect to proven cases of rogue soldiers, as recently as Saturday, 26 June, the senior military prosecutor of the Ituri military court requested a five-year penal sentence for Colonel Jean Lambert and a three-year sentence for his administrative assistant for arms smuggling. My Government is currently in discussions with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Of the greatest importance to my Government is MONUSCO’s exit strategy from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in terms of the transfer of competencies and, in this context, the implementation of resolution 2556 (2020). MONUSCO has al-ready closed its offices in Kananga and Tshikapa.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“With regard to improving the effectiveness of the management and security of stocks of arms and ammunition by the Government in order to reduce the risk of their being diverted to armed groups, it is important to stress that the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) has strengthened the security of arms and ammunition depots with the support of such partners as the European Union, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany, by building depots that meet international standards for several of the country’s military entities. The FARDC has also engaged in marking and identifying weapons, worked to establish traceability in the use of the weapons of war and strengthened the control of weapons distribution.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“I take this opportunity to reiterate the appeal made on this point by the Head of State of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the international community when he spoke before the General Assembly (see A/75/ PV.5), for appropriate, targeted and effective sanctions to be applied to these armed groups and their networks and other accomplices who, through their harmful activities, are undermining all the Government’s efforts to bring about peace.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“That having been said, my delegation would have liked resolution 2582 (2021) to strengthen forceful measures against criminal and mafioso actors and networks, which are implicitly incriminated in only one operational paragraph in the text of the resolution. Some countries were even mentioned in the report of the Group of Experts (S/2021/560), but there was no recommendation in the report targeting them. Rather, all recommendations were focused on the victim, namely, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and nothing was directed at the sponsors of terrorism and their accomplices.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“My country calls on the international community in general and the United Nations in particular to take this issue of the ADF connection to Islamic State entities very seriously and not to wait until it is too late to make useful recommendations to the 1533 Committee. We should not wait for the root cause to consolidate before acting, as that may make things more complicated. The Security Council has also expressed its concern about the continued illegal exploitation of and trade in natural resources, which has allowed armed groups operating in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to continue their activities.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“It is in this context of fighting terrorism in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and throughout the world that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of my country has participated in the work of the Global Coalition against Da’esh in Rome, Italy. In the light of the foregoing, my Government again welcomes the United States Department of State’s designation of affiliates and leaders of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as terrorists and the imposition of sanctions against them. It also welcomes the fact that the Government of Canada has just designated the ADF, which is of Ugandan origin and responsible for several massacres in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, as a terrorist group affiliated with Da’esh.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“These terrorist acts bear the signature of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a terrorist group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, as has been factually demonstrated and confirmed. My Government is therefore concerned that the Group of Experts continues to resist confirming the well-proven connection between the Islamic State and the ADF. As I have just mentioned, the latest case to date bearing the ADF signature was the terrorist attack committed on Sunday at the Malumalu roundabout in Beni. The suicide bomber who blew himself up was a Ugandan by the name of Ngudi Abdallah, who was very active alongside his leader, the sinister terrorist Amigo, and was identified as being in charge of training recruits and escorting new terrorists to Madina for indoctrination before their deployment to Mwalika.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“Furthermore, my country believes that the sanctions and measures referred to in paragraph 2 of the resolution adopted today should also apply to natural and legal persons designated by the Committee and involved in the direct or indirect sale, supply and transfer of explosive materials and processes and related equipment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which are used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices in total violation of the embargo in force. Barbaric and terrorist acts committed with homemade bombs are becoming increasingly frequent and worrying and require the attention of the entire international community. The latest cases are those of the explosion of a bomb at a Catholic church in Beni, on Sunday, 27 June 2021, and in the morning and evening of the same Sunday at the Malumalu roundabout, also in Beni.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“To that end, my delegation believes that, on the threshold of the new mandate for the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Group of Experts, it is important to assess the effectiveness and impact of our joint actions, as well as the actions applied to persons and entities designated by the Committee during the mandate that has just ended on restoring peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in accordance with resolution 1533 (2004). That will enable us to strengthen what has worked and to correct what has not.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“All these efforts made by the Government and our army to eradicate the negative forces should not be in vain. We must all rally around stopping the vicious cycle of violence and break the chains of a spiral imposed on us by armed groups and their criminal henchmen, so that the peoples of the African Great Lakes region may live happily and peacefully in their homes.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“My delegation wished to take the floor at this meeting in order to address several concerns raised in the text of the resolution and during the negotiations preceding its adoption. Indeed, in the resolution that has just been adopted, the Council expresses its concern about the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is dominated by the presence of both national and foreign armed groups. It should be noted in this regard that these armed groups have been weakened following the military offensive ordered in October 2019 by His Excellency Mr. Félix Antoine Tshilombo Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and following also the state of siege established since 3 May 2021 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“Mr. Empole (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (spoke in French): I thank you, Sir, for having organized this meeting on the situation in my country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, more specifically, on the renewal of the sanctions regime against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I welcome this opportunity to address the Security Council today. My delegation takes note of the adoption today of resolution 2582 (2021), renewing the sanctions regime and the mandate of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I pledge the full and ongoing cooperation of my country’s Government in the fulfilment of the Security Council mandate to restore peace and security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8807 (2021) · source
“I cannot conclude without expressing the gratitude of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the troop- contributing countries for their support, and I wish to pay tribute to the memory of all those who lost their lives for the sake of peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly the MONUSCO Blue Helmets, six of whom have fallen victim to COVID-19.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“I would like to reiterate the determination of the President of the Republic and of the Government to break the vicious circle of armed conflict and insecurity in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a view to fostering a return to normal life on that part of the national territory after more than two decades of upheaval. To that end, we are counting on the support of all partners of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to ensure the success of that undertaking.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“Turning to the issue of refugees in Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, concerned by this issue, calls for the reactivation of the legal mechanisms created for that purpose: the tripartite agreements among the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Rwanda; the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UNHCR and Uganda; and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UNHCR and Burundi, in order to undertake the effective repatriation of all concerned refugees.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“Thanks to those efforts, we have been able to reduce the fatality rate of the pandemic from 10 per cent at its inception to approximately 2.6 per cent today. We believe that the return of all displaced persons to their places of origin could make an effective contribution to a lasting peace and to renewed economic and agricultural activity in the region. Furthermore, with approximately 5.5 million displaced persons, of whom around 1 million 6,000 are living in very precarious conditions, humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for that category of the population remain tremendous and require increased support from partners.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“The humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is particularly concerning in the eastern part of the country following the multifaceted crisis caused by the consequences of the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19), as well as the numerous displacements of populations fleeing atrocities in conflict zones. Furthermore, in order to respond to the various complex challenges created by the pandemic in the health, economic and security sectors, the Government has established a multisectoral committee and a technical secretariat, which has drawn up a structured plan for a COVID-19 response as well as a multisectoral plan for the urgent mitigation of the impact of the pandemic, which was launched on 18 June by the President of the Republic.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka, leader of the Nduma Defense of Congo militia for war crimes, murder, rape, sexual slavery, child recruitment, looting, the destruction of property and physical harm. It should also be noted that one of its main co-defendants, Mr. Nzitonda Habimana Séraphin, known as Lionceau, of the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda, was also sentenced to life imprisonment by the same Military Court. During the same lengthy trial, which lasted more than two years, Jean Claude Lukambo, known as Kamutoto, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and Jean Batechi was acquitted. The verdict handed down by military justice in this trial shows the determination of the Congolese authorities to continue the legal fight against all war criminals, past and present, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“However, after investigations and trials, the perpetrators are and will always be punished in an exemplary manner in accordance with the law, regardless of their social status or rank in the security services of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In that regard, allow me to inform the Council that the President’s programme to combat sexual violence has three components: awareness-raising and community mobilization through a change of mindsets; fighting against impunity for the perpetrators of these actions; and, thirdly, support for the victims with psychosocial support, free legal assistance and the operationalization of the zero-tolerance programme. In the context of the fight against impunity, it is worth noting the conviction on Monday, 23 November, by the Operational Military Court of North Kivu of Mr.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“In that regard, I note that between 2019 and 2020, the military justice system tried and convicted at least 428 perpetrators of reported acts of sexual violence. These statistics amply demonstrate that the Congolese Government does not allow the perpetrators of these odious crimes to go unpunished. Allegations against elements of national security forces are always investigated, since wearing the uniform of Democratic Republic of the Congo security forces in this conflict area is not always synonymous with actual membership in the FARDC or the Congolese National Police. It has been repeatedly demonstrated by the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo that military property, as well as natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have often been stolen and trafficked by armed groups.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“With regard to the fight against violations of human rights and international humanitarian law against children in territories affected by conflicts, a road map has been drawn up in order to put an end to the recruitment and use of children by armed groups and ensure their protection from sexual violence. This road map was signed by some 10 commanders of armed groups in December 2018 and January 2019, thereby making it possible to release 553 children in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, Ituri, Tanganyika and greater Kasai. With respect to sexual violence in conflict, it should be noted that all crimes related to rape are severely punished by the Congolese State, and the Congolese Army applies a policy of zero tolerance for any such crimes.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“The actions taken to reform the justice system include capacity-building for legal personnel, in particular through training; strengthening the legal framework, especially the harmonization of national legislation with the Rome Statute; building and rehabilitating prison infrastructure to improve the conditions for detainees and prisoners; resolving intercommunal violence by creating and implementing transitional justice mechanisms through respective structures, including the National Council for the Prevention and Transformation of Conflict, and a fund for victims of severe human rights violations.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“Indeed, it will be hard for us to neutralize and defeat the armed groups if we do not succeed in eradicating their sources of support and financing. In accordance with the constitutional requirement, the Government continues to implement its programme for the defence and promotion of all human rights, with particular emphasis on combating impunity and corruption, as well as strengthening the rule of law and reforming the justice sector.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“My delegation would like to renew the call made by our President on the international community, during the seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly (see A/75/PV.5), to ensure that appropriate, targeted and effective sanctions are applied to all armed groups and criminal networks involved in the illicit trafficking in blood minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The illegal exploitation of natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has consequences for peace and security in the country and in the region, and the fight against the organized criminal traffic in these minerals is crucial, as it is a major source of funding for the belligerent and harmful activities of armed groups.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo takes this opportunity to call on the countries of the region and the guarantors of the agreement to seize the opportunity of the regional momentum in recent months to implement the commitments which they have all made. It should be noted that if the provisions of this framework agreement are translated into concrete action, they will enable the region to better manage issues of peace, security and especially cooperation and development through the logic of integration.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains committed to the framework agreement, which we consider to be the best regional path and strategy to follow in order to definitively emerge from the instability, which has been affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region for many years. For its part, the Government of my country will continue to implement all its national, regional and international commitments under that agreement and to assume its responsibility so that peace and harmony can be fully restored in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the region.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“The vision of the Congolese Government is to prioritize community-based DDR in order to enable sustainable demobilization and reintegration of former combatants from local armed groups and also to consider the regional approach of disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and resettlement or repatriation (DDRRR) in resolving the issues of foreign armed groups through dialogue with their countries of origin, thereby combining non-military options with military pressure. Moreover, in the current context dominated by many surrenders, the community-based DDR and DDRRR programmes, as well as the National Stabilization and Reconstruction Programme, need to operate at full capacity. To do so, they need fresh capital and support from partners.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“Knowing that a regional or provincial focus should be favoured for the reinsertion and reintegration of ex-combatants, the Government has opted this time to resort to community-based DDR. Ex-combatants will be reintegrated into their communities of origin in particular through agricultural work. To that end, a national structure is being established under the coordination of the presidency.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo must recommend that such a response capacity be adapted to the threat of asymmetrical warfare. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and MONUSCO have agreed to set up a joint working group to propose practical modalities for the transfer of tasks. The Congolese Government has already experimented with disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) in the framework of the Commission Nationale de Désarmement, Démobilisation et Réinsertion and the implementation unit of the national DDR programme. It therefore reaffirms its determination to establish a comprehensive programme and, to that end, has launched consultations to draw lessons from the past in order to better master this issue.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“That gradual withdrawal of the MONUSCO force will be accompanied by a temporary reinforcement of the police and civilian component, which will support the strengthening of the rule of law functions and the gradual transfer of the Mission’s tasks to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the assistance of the United Nations country team and other stakeholder partners. In areas affected by local armed groups and intercommunal violence, MONUSCO will maintain its presence to support the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in implementing a community-based approach to conflict resolution and stabilization. In areas affected by the militancy of local and foreign armed groups, MONUSCO will maintain its presence with a prevention and response capacity.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“After having jointly assessed the security situation in the country, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and MONUSCO therefore reached a common understanding on three kinds of areas, namely, first, post-conflict areas — Kasai, Central Kasai and Tanganyika provinces; secondly, areas affected by armed groups and intercommunal violence — northern Tanganyika and Ituri; and, thirdly, areas affected by the militancy of local and foreign armed groups and negative forces, as well as terrorist acts by the Allied Democratic Forces and the Madina Al-Tawheed Waljihad in Ituri and North and South Kivu provinces. In view of what I have just said, the two partners agreed the following draft timetable, namely, that the United Nations Mission would definitively leave Kasai province in June 2021 and Tanganyika province in 2022.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“However, in his address of 15 February 2019 to the diplomatic corps accredited in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the President of the Republic recalled the Government’s decision to support MONUSCO’s gradual withdrawal, based on the evolving security situation, by fully participating in the development of a joint exit strategy and its progressive transition in the context of a strategic dialogue. To that end, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is of the view that the reduction in MONUSCO’s force, with the ultimate objective of complete disengagement, should start with troops deemed non-essential.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“In that context, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its partners, notably the Southern African Development Community (SADC), have accepted the United Nations proposal to realign the current strength of the Force Intervention Brigade to allow the rapid reaction units to have the necessary scope of action and to form two rapid reaction units with troops from six SADC member contributor countries and a third unit from a non-SADC member country. My country’s Government commends the support of MONUSCO, in particular the logistical facilities provided to the FARDC and the Congolese National Police in their work to restore order and security.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“Given that the Force Intervention Brigade will once again have to play an important role in neutralizing terrorist movements and armed groups in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, my country supports the idea of increasing the Brigade’s operational capabilities, in particular by equipping it with special units suited to the asymmetrical warfare waged on us by the armed groups in the eastern part of the country, reinforcing it with adequate equipment, such as Rooivalk combat helicopters, artillery, combat engineers and geolocation and operational devices appropriate for dealing with the situation on the ground.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“The ultimate objective is to strengthen collaboration within MONUSCO units and with the FARDC so that the force required to protect the civilian population and restore peace, security and State authority throughout the national territory is effective.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“That work was carried out by means of direct talks between experts of the two stakeholders in October, resulting in a joint strategy for the gradual and phased withdrawal of MONUSCO from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was validated by the political authorities of my country and MONUSCO officials. During those exchanges, we also discussed the effectiveness of existing initiatives, strategies and mechanisms with a view to strengthening them where necessary and better coordinating our joint action for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region in the light of the current reality on the ground.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“For my Government, those tasks and prerequisites of MONUSCO’s mandate must be followed to the letter so as to enable the United Nations force to succeed in its core role in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, namely, the protection of civilians, as well as in its responsible and scheduled exit in accordance with the timetable jointly agreed with the Government. The Council is preparing to renew MONUSCO’s mandate, which expires on 20 December under the terms of resolution 2502 (2019), of 19 December 2019. The same resolution recommended that the Congolese Government and the United Nations conduct a strategic dialogue in order to reach agreement on the arrival of the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade and its gradual and responsible exit in order to safeguard the gains of the past.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“My country counts on support for those initiatives, including through the political will and the resolve of all our partners and countries of the region in particular, to effectively combat mineral trafficking, which empowers armed groups, as well as the Mafia- style trafficking in arms and smuggling, in order to give the Government the necessary support for the ongoing justice and security sector reforms; to provide funding and adequate support for disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and resettlement or repatriation; to advocate for the effective implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region and the United Nations regional strategy for peace consolidation, conflict prevention and conflict resolution for the Great Lakes region; and to work towards the comprehensive implementation of MONUSCO’s mandate and the strengthening of the offensive capabilities of the overall force, in particular its rapid reaction force.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“All those initiatives are aimed at peace, security, stability and economic development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region and a return to normal life. If such initiatives are sustained, they will bring about a lasting and definitive change in the narrative in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the region by moving from conflict-driven rhetoric to discourse that focuses on the path to regional development.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“Moreover, in keeping with his commitment to restoring peace and security in the eastern part of the country and in order to address those security concerns in the east on a lasting basis, the President of the Republic has also established and implemented a three-track strategy, namely, first, building the capacity of the defence and security forces through security sector reform in all its aspects; secondly, promoting national reconciliation, particularly between local communities in conflict, such as the Hima and the Lendu, the Twa Pygmies and the Bantu, the Bandundu and the Batende and Banyamulenge herders and the Babembe and Bafuliru farmers; and, thirdly, enabling regional diplomacy through an ongoing dialogue at the highest political level, which has significantly contributed to easing tensions in the region, strengthening relations among countries and restoring confidence among the respective Governments.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“In this context, let me inform the Council that since the military offensive was decided by the President of the Republic and carried out by contingents of the FARDC, with the logistical support of MONUSCO, starting in October 2019, many of these armed groups have been weakened. Many militias have laid down their arms and many strongholds of national territory formerly under the control of these negative forces have been recovered. Rest assured that the FARDC is determined, with the support of its partners, including MONUSCO, to continue its offensives against all these negative forces that have not complied with the Head of State’s call to lay down their arms until they are completely eradicated, in order to impose peace and thereby secure the population.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“However, in some well-identified areas in the east of the national territory, in the provinces of North and South Kivu and Ituri, there have been attacks by armed groups of both internal and external origin, as well as other remnants of still-active militias acting in flagrant violation of human rights while causing many casualties and massive destruction of property and infrastructure. These terrorist groups, some of which have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State, practice asymmetric warfare and continue to indiscriminately attack the civilian population, humanitarian workers, MONUSCO peacekeepers and the Forces armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC).”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source
“With this new coalition, the President of the Republic will put in place a Government that will conduct its action during the remainder of his five-year term and continue striving to implement his vision, with the aim of meeting the aspirations of the Congolese people. The objective is to build the future of democratic life in the country around and with the sacred union of the nation — in other words, a group of men and women of good will, no matter what their political, ideological or ethnic origins may be — adhering to the principles and values that will make it possible to establish a true rule of law and democracy and produce concrete results on the socioeconomic front. The security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has remained calm in general.”
2020-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8778 (2020) · source