Security Council Briefing and Consultations on the Great Lakes Region

(Summary Report by ASA based on Security briefing reports)

On 16 April, the United Nations Security Council convened an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, to address the situation in the Great Lakes region. The meeting featured a briefing by Mr. Huang Xia, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, who presented the Secretary-General’s latest biannual report on the implementation of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSC-F) for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region. The report, dated 1 April, covered developments between 16 September 2024 and 27 March 2025. The Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms. Catherine Russell, also delivered a briefing.

Representatives of the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, and Angola (in its capacity as Chair of the African Union) participated in accordance with Rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.

Ahead of the session, several Council members—namely Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom—held a joint stakeout to highlight the security implications of climate change in the Great Lakes region.

Deteriorating Security in Eastern DRC

In his remarks, Mr. Xia expressed deep concern over the continued deterioration of the security situation in eastern DRC, particularly in the provinces of North and South Kivu. He recalled that the Council had convened multiple times on this issue since January 2025, most recently on 27 March, and noted the adoption of Resolution 2773 on 21 February, which strongly condemned the M23 rebel group’s offensive and demanded their immediate withdrawal from occupied territories.

Mr. Xia detailed the M23’s capture of Walikale on 19 March—a significant development given the town’s strategic location along a key transport corridor toward Kisangani. Although the group announced on 22 March its intention to "reposition" in support of peace efforts, violence continued, including a deadly incident in Goma on 11–12 April that reportedly resulted in over 50 civilian casualties. Both the M23 and the Congolese government exchanged accusations regarding responsibility for the attack.

The briefing also covered the activities of other armed groups. According to the Secretary-General’s report, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) were responsible for 150 security incidents in North Kivu and Ituri, resulting in 498 civilian casualties. The Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR) also remained active, reportedly causing at least 35 deaths during the reporting period while strengthening ties with other armed factions.

Additionally, Mr. Xia discussed the deployment of the Burundi National Defence Force (FDNB) in South Kivu and its engagements with the RED Tabara group. The FDNB, present in the DRC under a bilateral agreement, also supported Congolese forces in operations against the M23.

Mr. Xia further noted the repatriation of nearly 300 foreign private security personnel in January, reportedly employed by the Congolese government to counter the M23 advance. This episode renewed international scrutiny over the role of foreign military actors in the conflict, including the Russian-linked Africa Corps (formerly Wagner Group).

Humanitarian Impact and Violations Against Children

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the devastating impact of the conflict on children. She referenced the 20 March MONUSCO report, which verified 472 grave violations between 29 November 2024 and March 2025. These included recruitment, sexual violence, and attacks on schools and hospitals. Most of these acts were attributed to the M23, alongside other armed actors and the FARDC. UNICEF and MONUSCO continued to work with the Congolese authorities toward the adoption of a national charter aimed at preventing the use of children in political and armed conflict.

Regional Tensions and Mediation Efforts

Council members addressed ongoing regional tensions, including persistent allegations exchanged between the DRC and Rwanda regarding support for armed groups. Some members welcomed the 18 March meeting between Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame in Doha as a constructive step, while acknowledging that broader reconciliation efforts remain fragile.

The session also touched on strained relations between Rwanda and Burundi. Despite recent military-to-military contacts suggesting a possible thaw, rhetoric remains tense. President Évariste Ndayishimiye's accusation on 25 March that Rwanda was preparing aggression against Burundi further complicated regional diplomacy.

In contrast, cooperation between the DRC and Uganda under the framework of Operation Shujaa was noted as a relatively positive development. Over 3,000 Ugandan troops were deployed between January and March to support operations against the ADF and CODECO. Although the Group of Experts to the 1533 Sanctions Committee previously reported possible Ugandan support to the M23, Uganda continues to deny these claims.

Political Processes and Resource Governance

Council members reiterated the importance of political dialogue and regional mediation. Angola’s role in regional diplomacy, particularly through the Luanda Process, was highlighted, though several members expressed concern over Angola’s apparent disengagement following President João Lourenço’s assumption of the AU Chairmanship.

Mr. Xia also updated members on preparations for the upcoming 12th Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM) summit in Kampala, scheduled for later this year. His recent visit to Uganda and discussions with President Museveni focused on this objective and the ongoing revitalisation of the PSC-F, as outlined during the 11th ROM summit in 2023.

Several members raised the issue of natural resource governance, referencing recent reports that the DRC offered the United States privileged access to critical minerals in exchange for strategic support against the M23. President Tshisekedi framed this as a mutually advantageous partnership in a 19 March interview. The visit of US Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, Mr. Massad Boulos, to the region earlier this month was also noted as a sign of renewed international engagement.