Statement by Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Samuel Žbogar at the UNSC meeting on the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo

I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix and Ambassador Imran Khanu for their updates. We are grateful to Dr. Abdelmoneim for his uncompromising frontline testimony. What we heard today must be yet another wake-up call: the human cost of this conflict is laid bare before us – stark, undeniable, and worsening by the day. We also welcome the presence of the Minister Wagner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as the representatives of Burundi and Rwanda.

Slovenia remains alarmed by the continued sharp escalation of hostilities in eastern DRC, some unfolding even as this Council meets. These developments run directly counter to this Council’s decisions, in particular resolution 2773.

We welcome intensified diplomatic efforts by the US, Qatar, and the African Union, including the signing of the Washington Accords and the Doha Framework for Peace. These diplomatic tracks hold promise, but must be translated into verifiable steps by all parties.

As Slovenia has consistently stressed: no progress is possible without silencing the guns. We agree with Under-Secretary-General Lacroix as well as with several colleagues that declarations are not enough; compliance must be demonstrated. Diplomacy must not be used as a shield behind which military gains continue. We call on all parties – Rwanda, the DRC, and the AFC/M23 – to fully and immediately uphold their commitments.

The realities on the ground tell a different story. The latest advance of M23 in South Kivu marks a dangerous widening of the conflict.

Slovenia condemns these offensives. We call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in line with 2773 and we call on M23 and Rwanda Defense Forces to halt all offensive operations and withdraw.

Civilians must not bear the burden of promises that are not honoured. We condemn every attack on civilians, medical facilities, humanitarian personnel, and critical infrastructure, not only by M23, but also violence of ADF, CODECO, Zaire, CRP, FDLR and other armed groups.

MSF has just briefed on attacks on health centres, mass displacement and the immense difficulty conducting lifesaving operations. Dr. Abdelmoneim, we follow MSF’s lifesaving work closely, including the unbearable realities your teams confront daily. The reporting on sexual violence—and the statement that it is not only feared, but expected, as you just said—is truly shocking, is devastating. Slovenia condemns this brutality in the strongest possible terms.

We call on all parties to implement concrete, verifiable measures to reduce harm to civilians, including ceasing all attacks and guaranteeing safe movement for humanitarian actors, including reopening of Goma and Kavumu airports.

Slovenia expresses its full support for MONUSCO. We thank Ms. Bintou Keita for all her efforts and leadership as SRSG and her field-focused diplomacy.

As we approach MONUSCO’s mandate renewal, the Council must carefully reflect on the current context and trajectories ahead.

MONUSCO must remain appropriately equipped and positioned to navigate rapidly changing conditions, particularly in protection of civilians, support to peace processes, disarmament and demobilization, and human rights monitoring.

Colleagues,

The people of the DRC need and deserve more than perpetual crisis management.

We are of the view that with restraint, responsibility, respect for international law, regional cooperation grounded in respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, non-support to armed groups, and accountability, a path toward de-escalation and lasting peace remains possible.

Thank you.

Recent Statements