UN envoy urges implementation of resolution on cessation of hostilities in eastern DRC

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The top UN envoy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) said Tuesday that the UN Security Council resolution that demands a cessation of hostilities in the east of the country has to be implemented.

"Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still mostly a promise. There are discrepancies between the progress we see on paper and the reality we observe on the ground, which continues to be marred with violence," said Bintou Keita, the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).

Security Council Resolution 2773, adopted on Feburary, 21, demands that the 23 March Movement (M23) immediately cease hostilities, withdraw from all controlled areas, and fully reverse the establishment of illegitimate parallel administrations in the DRC territory.

Months later, said Keita, the key provisions of Resolution 2773 remain largely unimplemented. Despite the council's requests, the Congo River Alliance (AFC)-M23 alliance has continued to pursue a logic of territorial expansion and consolidation.

Since taking Goma, the AFC-M23 has replaced formal institutions with alternative structures, leaving institutions across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces weakened.

More than 7,000 new recruits have undergone military training over the past seven months in AFC-M23 camps, she told the Security Council in a briefing.

"This underscores the persisting gap between the decisions of this council and the realities on the ground. I call upon the council and all partners to bring about a permanent ceasefire and a durable peace agreement that will establish stability in eastern DRC. Only then will commitments be translated into meaningful progress for the people," said Keita.

MONUSCO, known as such by its French acronym, remains fully committed to supporting ongoing peace efforts and stands ready to play its role in supporting the implementation of a permanent ceasefire provided it receives a clear mandate from the Security Council and the resources to match expectations, she said.

To date, the UN humanitarian response plan for the DRC is only 15.2 percent funded, compared with 41 percent at the same time last year. The withdrawal of some major donors has caused a collapse in funding, said Keita.

As a result, more than 27.7 million people are food insecure, including 5.7 million in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu. In some places, aid has been suspended.

Fewer people will receive assistance, or rations will be reduced. Maternal mortality is on the rise. The gap between vital needs and available resources is widening, she said.

"The many gaps I have described today affect negatively the population. Closing the gaps is not optional. It is the only way to protect lives and give peace a chance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Resolutions will matter only if they are matched by concrete actions on the ground. If we fail to close these gaps, millions of civilians will continue to pay the price," she warned.