A top UN official, Martha Pobee, on Friday told the Security Council that efforts to bring peace to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had not yielded the desired results.
Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Department of Political, Peace-building Affairs and Peace Operations, said this while briefing ambassadors about the diplomatic efforts made by the U.S. and Qatar.
She said that U.S. and Qatari diplomatic efforts to bring a lasting peace to DRC had not yet led to improved conditions on the ground.
The security situation is dire, as tensions remain high in the eastern DRC where multiple armed groups operate.
This is in spite of the diplomatic progress in recent months, with the United States brokering a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda.
Qatar has been facilitating a Declaration of Principles between the Congolese Government and M23 rebels.
The Security Council has also sought to promote peace in the restive region, notably through its adoption of resolution 2773 in Feb. 2025.
It called upon all parties to refrain from violence against civilians, as casualties continue to rise in the east of the country.
“In North Kivu, the situation has escalated significantly since April,” she said.
The DRC is currently facing one of the most acute humanitarian emergencies in the world, with food insecurity on the rise and 5.9 million Congolese currently internally displaced.
“Regrettably, the evolution of the security situation on the ground has not matched the progress achieved on the diplomatic front,” Pobee said.
Recent attacks were carried out by the M23 and Congo River Alliance armed groups, and assaults by the Allied Democratic Forces – a militia associated with the terrorist group ISIL.
These have dramatically increased civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, humanitarian workers continue to risk their lives to provide limited assistance to populations in need.
Amid general indifference, conflict-related sexual violence persists, as does the forced recruitment of children.
“We cannot and must not accept the extreme suffering and recurrent horrors that are commonplace in eastern DRC,” Pobee said.
To protect civilians, restore law and order, and address the profound humanitarian needs of the population, the parties must cease hostilities.
“At this critical juncture for the DRC and the region, it is crucial that this Council places its full weight behind current peace efforts, alongside exerting its influence to ensure respect for and compliance with resolution 2773,” she said.
While the situation on the ground remains dire, genuine engagement by parties, together with concerted international community support, will help lay the groundwork for a durable peace, she added.
