A3+ JOINT STATEMENT ON THE SITUATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

  Delivered by

H.E. Ambassador Kalilu Ibrahim Totangi, Deputy Permanent Representative

and Charge D'affaires of Sierra Leone to the United Nations on the DRC

22th August 2025

Mr. President,

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

2. We thank you for convening this meeting as requested by the United States.

3. We thank Ms. Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, for her insightful and comprehensive briefing.

4. We welcome the participation of the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in this important meeting.

Mr. President,

5. This meeting takes place less than two months after the signing of a peace agreement between the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, and a Declaration of Principles between the Government of the DRC and the M23 armed group. Yet, as highlighted by our briefer, the security situation in eastern DRC remains deeply troubling, with widespread suffering and the continuing loss of innocent civilian lives.

6. From the brutal killings in Beni territory by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), to attacks in Djugu territory by the Convention pour la Révolution Populaire (CRP) and Zaire militants, as well as continued attacks in Masisi territory by the M23, the human cost of this conflict

continues to grow with increasing deaths and injuries, mass displacement, hunger, disease, sexual violence and destruction of civilian infrastructure. It is therefore critical to strengthen diplomatic efforts to end this conflict in all its dimensions.

Accordingly, the A3+ would like to emphasize three key points:

7. First, the A3+ expresses its deep alarm over the continued attacks by the M23, ADF, CODECO, and other armed groups, despite the existing ceasefire agreement. We call for thorough and impartial investigations into all atrocities committed by armed groups in the DRC and for perpetrators to be held accountable.

8. We remain disheartened by the fact that the peace agreement has yet to produce tangible improvements on the ground, and that the Congolese people continue to bear the heavy cost of the prolonged instability and violence in the east of the country.

9. Second, the A3+ reiterates its firm belief that a political solution is the only viable path to sustainable peace in the DRC. We are encouraged by the ongoing regional efforts, which laid the foundation for signing of the Peace Agreement between the Governments of Rwanda and the DRC. We stress the prominent role of the African Union and sub-regional mechanisms in reaching a sustainable solution to the conflict in the eastern DRC under the leadership of President Faure Gnassingbé of the Republic of Togo.

10. We also welcome the complementary facilitation efforts of the United States Government, as well as the continued mediation efforts between the DRC Government and M23 under the patronage of the Emir of Qatar. We also welcome collaboration efforts between regional actors and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, Mr. Huang Xia, including the recent inaugural joint security coordination mechanism meeting, which was held earlier this month as part of the peace agreement implementation.

11. Third, we are gravely concerned by repeated ceasefire violations in eastern DRC. We therefore call for the establishment of a credible and robust verification mechanism to monitor implementation of the peace agreement. The ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreement only exacerbate the already troubling humanitarian situation.

12. In the context of World Humanitarian Day, which was marked on Tuesday, we honour the sacrifices of humanitarian workers and reaffirm our solidarity with the people they serve. We urge the international community to scale up its support to the Congolese population, and we call on all armed groups to fully comply with international humanitarian law, including by ensuring unhindered humanitarian access. In this regard, we specifically urge the M23 to lift the daily curfew imposed on civilians in Rutshuru territory; the cost to civilians is high.

13. In conclusion, Mr. President, the A3+ reaffirms its solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the DRC. We remain committed to supporting all initiatives aimed at ending the crisis. The international community must maintain momentum and diplomatic pressure to ensure lasting peace in the DRC.

I thank you.