12.12.2025 Statement by Denmark at the UNSC briefing on DRC

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Thank you, Mr. President.

And let me also thank USG Lacroix and Médecins Sans Frontières for their briefings. And I would like to welcome the participation of Her Excellency Foreign Minister Wagner, as well as representatives of Rwanda and Burundi in this meeting.

2025 has been a year of major developments in the DRC. Despite consistent challenges on the ground, MONUSCO has continued to deliver. Denmark commends MONUSCO for its tireless efforts in support of peace in extremely difficult circumstances.

Mr. President,

Allow me to raise three key points.

First,

We commend the collective mediation efforts by the United States and Qatar, as well as the key role played by the President of Togo as the African Union-appointed lead mediator, and the Panel of Facilitators.

We welcome the signing by the Presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda of the Washington Accords on 4 December, and the signing by DRC and the M23 of the Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement on 15 November.

However, we are deeply concerned that the commitments made by the parties are not being upheld.

Just this week, continued advances of the M23/AFC, and the intensified clashes in South Kivu, resulted in mass casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure.

We call on all parties to refrain from further escalation, and remind all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law.

We further urge M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force to immediately halt offensive operations.

In line with resolution 2773, Denmark reiterates its call on Rwanda to withdraw its troops from Eastern DRC and end its support to the M23, as well as we call on the DRC to cease its support to the FDLR.

The latest developments strongly underline the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, leading to a permanent and verifiable ceasefire.

Second,

Denmark remains concerned by the appalling human rights situation in Eastern DRC.

We condemn the wide range of reported conflict-related sexual violence incidents, notably the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence, including against children.

We strongly support the recommendations by the Fact-Finding Mission on the DRC to integrate accountability and transitional justice into peace negotiations, and strengthen efforts to prevent and punish conflict-related sexual violence.

As we have heard from our civil society briefer today these violations and abuses are taking place in the context of a catastrophic humanitarian situation. We reiterate our calls for unhindered and safe humanitarian access, including through Goma airport.

We welcome the pledges made at the Great Lakes Conference in Paris in October, and urge their rapid implementation.

My final point, Mr. President,

As we approach the renewal of MONUSCO’s mandate, Denmark underlines our support for the Mission as well as the critical need for its presence for stability and the protection of civilians in Eastern DRC.

MONUSCO’s mandate must reflect the current operational reality and respond to the situation on the ground, both with regard to possibilities for support to peace processes and emerging protection needs.

We thank the peacekeepers who put their life at risk in the DRC. We underscore that all parties must cease obstructions of the Mission’s operations and ensure its freedom of movement, resupply and troop rotations.

Let me conclude by expressing our deep appreciation to Special Representative Bintou Keita for her dedication and leadership during her time as head of MONUSCO. We look forward to the timely appointment of her successor at this critical time for the Mission.

Thank you.