The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their support to national and regional efforts to promote peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes region, building on the commitments made by the countries of the region under the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region. They welcomed the Summit hosted by President Lourenço of Angola between President Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Kagame of Rwanda.

They took note of the objectives set by the ICGLR Roadmap on the pacification process in the eastern region of the DRC and of the will to rebuild trust and to resolve their differences through dialogue, including through the DRC-Rwanda Joint Permanent Commission and an Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism, and to continue to make use of existing sub-regional organisations and mechanisms. They encouraged efforts from both parties to implement the Roadmap and to take all the necessary steps towards de-escalation. 

The members of the Security Council welcomed the Communiqué of the Septet Summit and Third Conclave of the East African Community Heads of State on the peace and security situation in the eastern part of the DRC, held on 20 June 2022 in Nairobi.

They took note of steps taken to operationalise a Regional Force and stressed the importance of the protection of civilians and of coordination and information sharing with MONUSCO. They stressed the need to carry out all operations, joint or unilateral, in strict compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as applicable. 

The members of the Security Council reiterated their concern at the increase of armed group activity in the eastern provinces of the DRC, threatening to reverse hard-won progress in security and stability in the region and exacerbating the current humanitarian situation. They reiterated their strong condemnation of all domestic and foreign armed groups operating in the country. 

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms all attacks and provocations against civilians, civilian objects and MONUSCO and underlined that deliberate attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

They underscored that the primary responsibility of the safety and security of civilians, United Nations personnel and assets rests with host States and highlighted the importance of continued engagements and communications between MONUSCO and the Congolese Government. They called on all actors to end violence and their violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law.  

The members of the Security Council called on all armed groups to immediately cease all forms of violence and urged all Congolese armed groups to participate unconditionally in the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program (P-DDRCS), and foreign armed groups to immediately disarm and return to their countries of origin. 

They underlined the importance of supporting the progress of Security Sector Reform (SSR) in the DRC and called on the Government of the DRC to consolidate progress on the restoration of State authority and SSR reforms needed in the DRC.  

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC. They reiterated their full support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bintou Keita and for the stabilising action of MONUSCO, in line with the basic principles of peacekeeping and its mandate as reflected in Security Council resolution 2612 (2021), and expressed their deep appreciation to MONUSCO’s troop- and police-contributing countries.

They encouraged the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General Huang Xia to continue his good offices efforts in the Great Lakes region in support of a de-escalation of tensions and dialogue among all concerned parties.  

12 July 2022