UN envoy urges all parties to ‘stay the course’ towards peace in eastern Congo

James Swan delivered his first briefing to Security Council almost a year after Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington, DC.

Together with the Doha Framework for Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Qatar and mediation efforts led by the African Union (AU), these processes have created an “agreed pathway” to resolve the long-standing conflict in eastern Congo.

“It is now important for the momentum to be maintained and for the commitments agreed to by the signatories to be fully implementedhe said.

Fighting continues on key fronts

Mr Swan was appointed in March to head the UN Stabilization Mission in Congo, known by its French acronym MONUSCO.

He warned that the security situation in the eastern region remains highly unstable and civilians continue to suffer heavy losses amid ongoing clashes in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri.

Heavy fighting continues between the Congolese Fleuve Alliance/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23), backed by Rwandan troops, and the Congolese Army (FARDC) allied with the Wazalendo armed group.

In some areas, Congolese forces are supported by the Democratic Forces for Freedom of Rwanda (FDLR), a mostly Hutu armed group founded by former perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Clashes mainly occurred in two locations in North Kivu, namely Rubaya, an important mining center, and in the area around Rutshuru, but also in the highlands of South Kivu.

He said the use of offensive drones, artillery and heavy weapons had sharply increased risks to civilians and infrastructure.

Although AFC/M23 has withdrawn some of its territory, the group continues to consolidate parallel administrative structures in the areas it controls.

Swan called for the rapid implementation of monitoring and verification mechanisms for ceasefire commitments under the Doha process.

MONUSCO has provided office space in the city of Goma for the mechanism, along with equipment and furniture, and is preparing logistical and security support for the ceasefire monitoring mission.

Civilians are attacked

The envoy also highlighted the ongoing threat posed by the Allied Democrat Forces (ADF). Since the last Security Council meeting in Congo, armed groups have killed 287 civilians in Ituri, including 44 women.

In North Kivu, ADF violence subsided temporarily earlier this year but recently returned in the Beni region, resulting in 66 civilians being killed, including 17 women and three children.

Since March 19, MONUSCO has documented 632 civilian deaths related to armed conflict in North Kivu and Ituri.

In the same period, the UN also documented 1,221 human rights violations, including conflict-related sexual violence, committed by armed groups and members of defense and security forces. A total of 2,968 victims, including 392 women and 378 children, were affected.

MONUSCO has intensified patrols and increased mobile operating bases in areas affected by ADF attacks and around internally displaced persons sites. Since March 19, Congolese peacekeepers and the Army have carried out more than 2,000 joint patrols.

The mission also supports local and provincial peace mechanisms, particularly in Ituri, where progress has been made in implementing a roadmap for dialogue between armed groups in Aru.

Support for security sector reform as well as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration efforts continues. Between March and June, MONUSCO facilitated the repatriation of 156 former Rwandan combatants and 163 dependents associated with the FDLR and other foreign armed groups.

Ebola outbreak in the midst of a humanitarian crisis

Mr Swan underscored MONUSCO’s commitment to implementing its mandate despite the liquidity crisis hitting UN peace operations at a time of increasing needs in Congo.

The humanitarian situation remains dire nearly 27 million people — more than a quarter of the population — experiences food insecurity. A $1.4 billion humanitarian plan to help 7.3 million people this year is only 53 percent funded.

This situation is further aggravated by Ebola The outbreak declared on May 15 occurs in areas affected by active conflict and in urban areas with overwhelmed health services, posing a significant risk of further spread.

UN support is unwavering

Mr Swan ended his briefing by urging all parties to the Washington and Doha agreement “to stay on the path to lasting peace.”

He also reiterated the UN Secretary-General’s call for all parties to fully comply with two Security Council resolutions reaffirming respect for Congo’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.

“MONUSCO’s support for the aspirations of the Congolese people for peace, security and sustainable development remains steadfast,” he said.