Statement by Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council Ambassador Samuel Žbogar at the briefing on the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Slovenia.

I extend my gratitude to SRSG Keita for her comprehensive briefing and her work. You can count on Slovenia’s continuous support for MONUSCO’s critical role in protection of civilians.

I also thank the Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone for his briefing and Mme Thérèse Nzale-Kove for her impactful messages.

I welcome the representatives of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and Rwanda to this meeting.

SRSG Keita, your briefing shows that the security situation in Eastern DRC remains troubling.  We strongly condemn the deadly actions of armed groups, particularly M23, ADF, and CODECO. The continued territorial expansion of M23 must stop. We call on all armed groups to stop fighting, disarm and fully withdraw from occupied territories.

I would like to make three points:

First – During our last briefing, we urged the leadership of the DRC and Rwanda to engage in an inclusive political dialogue. We welcome the recent progress in this regard and reiterate our support for the Nairobi and Luanda processes.

The ceasefire facilitated by Angola, marks a significant step forward and it should not backtrack. Slovenia commends President Lourenço‘s strong commitment to peace and stability in the region. We call on Rwanda and the DRC to respect and fully implement this agreement. Let me also reiterate the importance of full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all peacebuilding efforts, including Luanda and Nairobi processes.

We also emphasize that all external support for armed groups, particularly M23, must cease. We remain alarmed by unauthorized foreign military personnel in the DRC and urge Rwanda to immediately withdraw its military presence and fully respect DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Second – Civilians continue to bear the brunt of this protracted crisis.

We strongly condemn the widespread sexual and gender-based violence which disproportionately targets women and girls.

Protection mechanisms, particularly within displacement camps remain alarmingly scarce. Health care for survivors is essential and it must be ensured.

We often hear the same sentiment echoed by survivors – they seek justice, protection and the opportunity to live without constant fear. All those responsible for violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law must be held accountable.

I would like to recognize the work of local organizations, especially women-led organizations. Their commitment is both inspiring and essential to the community’s resilience. We have heard one such example from Mme Nzale-Kove today.

Third – the humanitarian situation in eastern DRC remains very dire. Conflict is intensifying hunger, driving alarming levels of food insecurity and malnutrition, and escalating forced displacement.

Children, pregnant women, and new mothers, especially in IDP camps face shortages of food, clean water and healthcare as aid workers struggle to access them due to ongoing violence. Humanitarian workers must not be targeted under any circumstances. We must not allow this complex emergency to become a forgotten crisis amidst other global challenges.

In conclusion,

We hope the current political process will serve as the basis to build trust ultimately contributing to lasting peace for the people of the DRC and the wider Great Lakes region.

I resume my function as President of the Council.

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