Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Permanent Representative of Latvia to the UN at the UN Security Council briefing on the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo
New York, 26 March 2026
Thank you, Mr President. I welcome your presence today and your presiding over this meeting. I also wish to thank you for all your personal efforts towards peace in Africa. I thank the Deputy SRSG Vivian van de Perre for the briefing.
At the outset, allow me to express Latvia’s support to MONUSCO and thank all uniformed personnel and civilian staff for their work in very challenging circumstances. MONUSCO’s multidimensional support remains essential for advancing peace and stability in the DRC. MONUSCO’s protection is critical for the hundreds of thousands trapped in a cycle of violence and displacement.
Latvia is deeply concerned by the dire security and humanitarian situation in the East. We condemn the 11 March drone strike in Goma that killed UNICEF aid worker. We express our sincere condolences, and join the calls for a swift and independent investigation to ensure accountability. Humanitarian relief personnel embody the highest values of humanity and play an essential role in protecting and supporting people in crisis. They and their relief consignments must never be targeted. International humanitarian law must be respected.
Mr President, I will make three points.
First, we do support all efforts to achieve lasting peace in the eastern DRC. We commend the United States, Qatar and the African Union for their peace efforts and the progress achieved so far. In this context we also note last week’s Joint Statement by the Governments of the United States, the DRC and Rwanda on advancing the Washington Accords. We hope to see diplomatic progress finally translate into material improvement in the situation on the ground. As we heard in the briefing, it is concerning that hostilities in the eastern DRC have continued despite the repeated calls of this Council, notably the resolutions 2773 and 2808, and despite the agreements achieved through mediation. We urge all parties to implement their obligations and commitments in good faith. We call on Rwanda to cease its support to M23 and withdraw its troops from the DRC. We call also for the neutralization of the FDLR, and cessation of support to this and other armed groups. Parties should finally implement an actual ceasefire.
This brings me to my second point. We welcome the establishment and operationalization of the Ceasefire Observation and Verification Mechanism agreed in the Doha process. As confirmed by the Secretary General, MONUSCO stands ready to support the implementation of a permanent ceasefire provided necessary conditions are in place. We support the approach proposed by the Secretary-General. We urge all parties to create the necessary conditions for MONUSCO to play an effective role. All parties must refrain from hostile actions that threaten the safety and security of peacekeepers. Having said that, for the best laid plans to work, they need to be resourced. It is critical that MONUSCO is provided with adequate funding and capabilities to support ceasefire monitoring and verification, while fully delivering its core mandate in North Kivu and Ituri. Most importantly, with regard to protection of civilians.
Third, human lives are the ultimate price of this conflict. Many have been lost, even more - scarred. We condemn the widespread violations and abuses of human rights across the eastern DRC by non-state and state actors, including recruitment and exploitation of children and conflict-related sexual violence. We recall the stark testimony by Médecins Sans Frontières at beginning of December. Women and girls tell that “sexual violence is not simply feared – it is expected”. It is a harrowing reality. Surely, this Council can and must speak more clearly and act more boldly to advance accountability for human rights violations and abuses. Supporting monitoring and reporting capacities, investigative mechanisms needs to be part of it.
Mr. President,
In conclusion, I would like to use the opportunity to welcome the appointment of the new Special Representative James Swan. Latvia reiterates its commitment to sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to the shared objective of lasting peace, stability and sustainable development in the DRC. And we stands ready to lend our voice and effort towards this objective.
I thank you.