A3+ JOINT STATEMENT AT THE UNSC MEETING ON THE GREAT LAKES REGION

  Delivered by

H. E. Dr. Michael Imran Kanu, Ambassador / Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone

13th October 2025

Mr. President,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+ members: Algeria, Guyana, Somalia, and my own country, Sierra Leone.

We express our sincere appreciation to Mr. Huang Xia, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, for his comprehensive briefing and continued active engagements in support of peace, security, and stability in the region. We also welcome the representatives of DRC and Rwanda.

The A3+ commends the leaders of the region for convening the twelfth high-level meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region, which led to the adoption of an action plan to revitalize the agreement.

The A3+ also commends the steadfast efforts of both past and present leaders of the region to help find a peaceful solution to the crisis in the eastern DRC. The continued commitment of President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union, President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé of Togo, the African Union mediator, and the members of the Panel of Facilitators is commendable.

The A3+ calls on the Security Council and the wider international community to continue supporting the regional initiatives by aligning all international peace initiatives with the ongoing efforts of the African Union for peace. We highlight the continuing viability of the EAC/SADC roadmap for resolving the conflict, as we continue to uphold our firm support or the merged Luanda and Nairobi processes as decided by the EAC/SADC Summit, and urge Rwanda and the DRC to continue engaging fully in the process, prioritizing peace, stability, and development of the region.

The A3+ is also encouraged by complementary international initiatives towards peace, including the United States mediation and the signing, on 27 June 2025, of the United States-facilitated peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and subsequent meetings of the Joint Security Cooperation Mechanism and Joint Oversight Committee pursuant to the Agreement.

The A3+ also commends the mediation role of the State of Qatar and welcomes the signing of a Declaration of Principles by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the AFC/M23 on 19 July 2025 in Doha, and the agreement regarding detainees.

The A3+ calls on the Governments of the DRC and Rwanda to fully fulfil their commitments and comply with their respective obligations under the various initiatives aimed at achieving peace in eastern DRC and stabilization in the Great Lakes region. On this note, we also underscore the obligation of all parties to fully comply with the provisions of Security Council resolution 2773 (2025), in line with the aforesaid commitments of the parties in the signed agreements.

We also underscore the obligations of all signatories to the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region, including those demanding non- support to armed groups operating in the region. We call on countries in the region to seek peaceful pathways for the resolution of any differences and to prioritize the normalization of relations, where relevant. We accordingly encourage initiatives that deepen cooperation and stress the importance of continued engagement and dialogue.

The A3+ deems it imperative to underscore the importance of ensuring coherence and complementarity among all peace initiatives. We emphasize that international engagements should reinforce African-led processes. We commend the leadership of the African Union Commission in guiding the consolidated mediation architecture and encourage sustained coordination with all regional and international partners to support the peace efforts of the continent.

Mr. President,

The A3+ shares the Secretary-General’s deep concerns about the reported violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law (IHRL and IHL) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ fact-finding mission on the situation in North and South Kivu Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo indicates that all parties to the conflict committed serious human rights violations and abuses that may constitute crimes under international humanitarian law. The A3+ strongly condemns these violations and stresses that the appalling outrage of sexual violence must stop, and perpetrators must be held accountable.

The A3+ continues to express deep concern about the humanitarian situation in the region, with displacement of millions of civilians who have been forced to leave their homes, and the numerous incidents of sexual violence and forced recruitment of children. Humanitarian access remains significantly disrupted in some areas, leaving displaced populations in desperate need of assistance. We call for unrestricted humanitarian access and urge the protection of civilians from the attacks of armed groups. We further reiterate that the protection of civilians must be central in all efforts towards peace and stability in the region.

We accordingly recognize MONUSCO’s vital role, in this defining moment, in

supporting Congolese authorities and facilitating the protection of civilians in line with its

mandate. We underscore the importance of adequate funding for the Mission,

particularly at this vulnerable period.

We commend efforts to advance the meaningful participation of women in political and

peace processes.

Mr. President,

To achieve lasting peace, we must not forget to address the key drivers of instability in the DRC and the Great Lakes region, such as the illicit exploitation of natural resources, underdevelopment, current absence of full State presence and governance in affected areas.

Curbing the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources, which are both key drivers and consequences of the conflict, remains critical. The A3+ therefore welcomes the continued efforts by the ICGLR in strengthening its Regional Certification Mechanism, including drawing on lessons from the Kimberley Process.

The A3+ expresses its full support for the implementation of the UN Strategy for Peace Consolidation in the Great Lakes Region. Our position remains firmly anchored in support of inclusive dialogue, guided by the principles of national ownership and African solutions to African problems.

In closing, we reaffirm our firm commitment to the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all States of the region. The path to sustainable peace lies not in violence but in a political solution that is anchored in dialogue, support for regional peace, and respect for international law.

I thank you.