26.01.2025 Statement by Denmark at the UN Security Council Open Briefing on DRC

Checked Against Delivery

Thank you, Mr. President,

SRSG Keita, thank you for your briefing today. MONUSCO is facing immense pressure. Denmark greatly appreciates your continued leadership and engagement.

Let me also thank ASG Msuya and through her, the entire humanitarian community in the DRC, and USG Lacroix and the Department of Peace Operations for their tireless work in support of our peacekeepers.

I welcome the presence of H. E. Foreign Minister Wagner in today’s meeting.

Let me first express Denmark’s deepest condolences to the families, friends and comrades of the brave peacekeepers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace.

Mr. President,

As we speak, the M23, with the support of the Rwandan Defense Forces, are advancing towards Goma. Denmark condemns, in the strongest terms, the M23’s offensive in Goma and its recent captures of Minova and Sake.

The human suffering this has caused, and will cause, is unconscionable. 

Let there be no doubt: this offensive, as well as Rwanda’s military presence in DRC, are clear violations of the terms agreed in the ceasefire, clear violations of the UN charter, and clear violations of the territorial integrity of the DRC.

We call on the M23 and RDF to cease their operations and withdraw from all occupied areas immediately.

Mr. President,

MONUSCO is operating under extremely difficult circumstances. It faces a hostile opposition that uses GPS interference and increasingly complex weaponry.

This not only severely restricts the mission’s operations, but also delays humanitarian aid delivery and complicates access to the most vulnerable civilian populations.

Let me be very clear. Denmark deplores, in the strongest terms, any attack against blue helmets, UN staff or their humanitarian partners. Such attacks are unacceptable and a violation of international law, and may constitute war crimes.

Mr. President,

Eastern DRC has long contended with a multitude of crises.

The humanitarian situation is catastrophic.

With M23’s advance from its surrounding areas, civilians sought protection in overburdened and overcrowded IDP camps in Goma.

Widespread sexual and gender-based violence, child recruitment, hate speech and xenophobia, summary killings and other persistent violations of international humanitarian law as well as violations and abuses of human rights have been reported and extensively documented.

We express our deep concern for the protection of civilians.

We call on all parties to immediately comply with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

All responsible parties must be held to account, and the protection of civilians including human rights defenders, journalists and civil society must be ensured.

There is an urgent need to guarantee the security of all medical workers and humanitarian personnel, including in IDP camps. Humanitarian access and corridors must be ensured. That goes both for those fleeing and for those staying.

Mr. President,

The DRC has faced instability and conflict for more than three decades. We are now at the brink of a more wide-spread conflict, with unspeakable devastation not just for the Congolese people, but for the whole region.

We urge all parties to act and engage in good faith and to immediately recommit to the existing, robust processes in place to resolve the conflict.

We echo the statements made by the Secretary-General, and urge the DRC and Rwanda to remain fully engaged in the Luanda process.

Momentum must be maintained on the neutralization of the FDLR and withdrawal of Rwandan forces, as well as the swift application of the Reinforced Ad-Hoc Verification Mechanism.

We urge Rwanda to send its representatives to the mechanism immediately. Denmark expresses its full support to both the Luanda Process, and the Nairobi Process.

We strongly urge Rwanda to immediately cease its support to the M23 and withdraw its forces, and for the DRC to immediately cease its support to the FDLR, both of which has been consistently documented by the Group of Experts on the DRC.

Illegal exploitation of natural resources in the eastern DRC is a key driver of instability in the Great Lakes Region. This must end.

We encourage Rwanda and DRC to investigate and prosecute all actors and networks involved.

Mr. President, to conclude,

As we speak, the Congolese people are suffering. Suffering that long predates this meeting, this current offensive, and which has deep historical ties. They are looking to this Council to act.

Thank you.

Checked Against Delivery