As delivered
Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Permanent Representative of Latvia to the UN at the UN Security Council briefing on the Great Lakes region
15 April 2026
Madam President,
I thank the Special Envoy Huang Xia for his briefing, as well as for his efforts to advance peace and cooperation in the Great Lakes region. I also thank Executive Director Sima Bahous for her briefing, highlighting the decisive role of women in building peace and welcome the participation of the representatives of Rwanda and Angola in this meeting.
Madam President, I will make three points.
First, the signatories of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region have committed to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighbouring countries, and to neither tolerate nor aid armed groups. More than a decade later, this commitment is as relevant as ever. Peace in the eastern DRC remains elusive. Latvia supports the US, Qatar and the African Union-led peace processes. And we note the resumption of talks between the DRC Government and AFC/M23 under the Doha Framework. Yet, as the special envoy Xia underlined, despite diplomatic efforts, in practice, the security and humanitarian situation is worsening. We call on Rwanda to cease its support for the M23 and withdraw its troops from the DRC, and for the FDLR to be neutralized. Resolution 2773 must be fully implemented. All parties must engage in good faith and honour their commitments. Most urgently – hostilities must cease and a ceasefire must be implemented. We also reiterate our support for the Secretary-General’s proposed conditions-based approach for MONUSCO’s support to ceasefire implementation in North and South Kivu, in line with the resolution 2808. It is the responsibility of all parties to enable those conditions.
Second, for years the conflict in the Eastern DRC has subjected the Congolese people to unspeakable atrocities. Women and girls experience the worst as conflict related sexual violence is systematically used as a weapon of war. We insist all violations of international humanitarian law and human rights must be met with accountability. Regrettably, conflicts feed on themselves, especially in communities already ridden with tensions. Therefore, we are also concerned by the reports of surging hate speech in the context of the conflict in the eastern DRC. 7th of April marked the beginning of the 100-day commemoration period of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. We pay tribute to the victims and survivors. This dark page in the human history holds a lesson that one must never forget – words can lead to violence. We urge to weigh words with care. It is important to speak up for truth and justice, but hate speech, incitement to violence must be rejected.
Third, conflict in the easter DRC affects the whole region of the Great Lakes, increasing regional instability risks and humanitarian pressures, especially in relation to displacement. Unlocking peace in the eastern DRC will benefit the wider region. At the same time, home-grown challenges also cannot be ignored. We are concerned about the reports of shrinking civic space in the countries of the Great Lakes region, particularly in electoral contexts and in effort to intimidate political opposition. Peaceful, inclusive and sustainable development thrives on meaningful participation of all groups of the society. We urge all countries of the region to uphold fundamental rights and freedoms, which is the core of democratic processes. We particularly encourage countries to meaningfully engage youth and women in political and peace processes. We welcome the positive developments for political participation of women in the region as described by Sima Bahous, and we support the Special Envoy's continued advocacy to that end.
Mr President,
The Great Lakes region holds immense potential, and its people deserve to live in peace and build a prosperous future. That aspiration must be the guiding light for the decision makers in the region and for the international community supporting them.
I thank you.