Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Saša Jurečko at the UNSC meeting on the Great Lakes Region

Thank you Mr. President,

I wish to thank today’s briefers, Special Envoy Mr. Huang Xia and Ms. Catherine Russel, Executive Director of UNICEF as well as His Excellency Tete Antonio in his capacity as Chair of the AU Executive Council.

The Great Lakes Region continues to face complex challenges related to security, humanitarian situation, and human rights. These pressing concerns urgently call for coordinated and measured responses to pave the way for enduring peace and progress.

Regional stability is intrinsically linked to the stability of eastern DRC. We reaffirm our commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC and all countries in the Great Lakes region, and we support all efforts towards durable peace, recognizing the region’s central role in this.

It is deeply regrettable that, despite concerted calls from regional and international actors – including this Council through Resolution 2773 (2025), and joint appeals from the EAC/SADC summit and the African Union – for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal from occupied areas in the eastern DRC, these appeals have yet to be heeded.

As noted by today’s briefers, achieving sustainable peace and security remains contingent on strengthened cooperation and mutual trust. We commend the efforts of regional partners – the African Union, EAC and SADC – as well as international initiatives. We also extend our appreciation to the Special Envoy for his continued engagement through good offices amid the evolving crisis in eastern DRC.

We emphasize the importance of aligning and coordinating mediation efforts with ongoing regional processes to ensure complementarity and amplifying the impact of peace-building initiatives. This coordination should also translate into unified support for the effective implementation of agreements reached.

It is essential to preserve the progress achieved and gains made and build on the foundations laid, particularly through the Luanda and Nairobi processes. We thank the President of Angola for his efforts and congratulate President Gnassingbé of Togo on his appointment as the new African Union mediator, wishing him success in this role.

Mr. President,

The PSC Framework remains essential for stable peace in the Great Lakes. Its revitalization and implementation are vital for regional stability, with addressing the root causes of the conflict at its core.

Addressing the underlying drivers of recurring violence and instability has to remain at the center of peace initiatives. Illicit exploitation of natural resources, historical grievances and ethnic tensions are some of the issues that must be effectively addressed.

We continue to encourage countries in the region towards progress in the implementation of the Regional Mineral Certification Mechanism of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.

We should not allow Global Digital and Green Energy transitions to contribute to regional divisions in resource management. Governments and the private sector have a key role to play in promoting sustainable and ethical resources extraction across value chains.

We also call on parties to refrain from divisive rhetoric and escalatory actions that would undermine hard-won progress and impede the path to stability. We urge all states to continue engaging in confidence-building and trust-enhancing measures.

In conclusion, Mr. President,

The tide of instability and violence has created a dire humanitarian situation that resonates most through the suffering of civilians throughout the region.

The surging humanitarian needs, worsening food insecurity, mass displacement, health crises and an alarming rise in human rights violations and abuses stand as stark testaments to this grim reality. The impact on children, with its long-term implications for the future of the region, is particularly devastating.

It remains imperative to reach a viable political solution that will halt further escalation of conflict. Slovenia reaffirms its commitment to support initiatives aimed at restoring stability and ensuring that the welfare of civilians is prioritized.

I thank you.

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