Madam President! We thank you very much.
I also wanted share the concern expressed by others at the Council table at today’s news about a helicopter that crashed in Rutshuru, North Kivu. We hope that the rescue mission today will be successful. However, we are reminded daily of the risks that peacekeepers take to carry out our mandates.
As we have heard from the Council table today, the United Kingdom is very concerned about the violence faced by civilians in eastern DRC and the ongoing attacks of armed groups. We are also increasingly concerned about the resurgent M23 group, in addition to the ADF and CODECO armed groups.
MONUSCO’s efforts in strengthening protection in the Djugu Area of Ituri is welcomed by us, but we are concerned about the insecurity surrounding IDP camps. The recent kidnappings in North Kivu have made large swathes of the province unaccessible to humanitarian agencies.
We take note of the Government of the DRC’s efforts to address security in eastern DRC. However, we urge them to intensify their efforts to improve security, humanitarian access, and alleviate the suffering of the Congolese people.
The United Kingdom welcomes the reintroduction of civilian judicial processes almost a year after the declaration of State of Siege. We call on the Government of DRC for continued efforts to reduce the negative effects of the State of Siege. This includes setting clear objectives and a plan for exit, and responding to the National Defence and Security Committee’s recommendations.
Joint DRC-Ugandan military missions are welcomed by us. We remain concerned that the joint operations in Beni, North Kivu, have not been able to improve the security situation or tackle the threat posed by the ADF.
We urge the Governments in DRC and Uganda increase their coordination to MONUSCO. This is essential for ensuring civilian safety and security, as well as the safety and security UN personnel and humanitarian workers. It could also help to maintain cleared areas and prevent the ADF spreading to new territories where they can reestablish footholds.
Concerning the safety of UN personnel, the firing on a MONUSCO Patrol by FARDC Soldiers in North Kivu is also alarming. We support the Secretary-General’s call that those responsible be held accountable.
Madam President! The United Kingdom welcomes the DRC’s progress in developing and operating the PDDRCS, a new DDR community recovery program and stabilisation program. It is crucial to learn from past DDR efforts. This includes adopting a decentralised, community-based approach. The UN has provided technical assistance in this area. We are grateful. As the operational phase starts, it will be crucial that inclusive coordinated structures are established between the UN, the international communities, and the PDDRCS.
Concerning MONUSCOs transition, we agree with the Secretary-Generals belief that the transition plan and its associated benchmarks offer a comprehensive framework to mobilize the collective efforts by the government, UN and international partners. As the Council evaluates progress in the implementation of the transition plan, it will be crucial to establish baselines and track progress against the transition indicators, jointly by the UN and DRC. We look forward for future updates on this transition as part of the regular report cycle.
Let me conclude by praising the efforts of SRSG Keita and her team in extremely difficult circumstances. We hope that MONUSCO and DRC’s government can create a more peaceful and stable environment for the people of DRC.
Thank you.