Democratic Republic of the Congo
Expected Council Action
In June, the Security Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Special Representative and Head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) James Swan is expected to brief.
During the month, the Security Council will vote to renew the mandates of the 1533 DRC sanctions regime, which expires on 1 July, and the Group of Experts assisting the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee, which expires on 1 August.
Key Recent Developments
Since assuming his new role in April, Swan has met with President Félix Tshisekedi and the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner. He also visited eastern DRC from 24 to 26 April to discuss the implementation of resolution 2773 of 21 February 2025, which called for all parties to conclude an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in North and South Kivu provinces, and resolution 2808 of 19 December 2025, which most recently renewed MONUSCO’s mandate. His visit included North Kivu and Ituri provinces, where MONUSCO continues to operate, with stops in Beni, Bunia, and Goma. According to a 26 April MONUSCO press release, Swan focused in particular on the operationalisation of ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanisms, as well as concrete measures to advance ongoing mediation efforts.
From 13 to 18 April, representatives of the Congolese government and the Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) rebel group met in Montreux, Switzerland, within the framework of the Doha process, a mediation effort facilitated by Qatar. The two sides reportedly made progress towards the signing of the Protocol on Humanitarian Access and Judicial Protection. They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region to facilitate the operationalisation of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus, which is a key component of the Ceasefire and Oversight Mechanism agreed by the parties under the Doha Process.
The Joint Oversight Committee established under the Washington process, a US-led mediation initiative, met on 23 April to review implementation of the peace agreement signed between the DRC and Rwanda on 27 June 2025. According to a US Department of State press release, representatives of the two countries provided updates on efforts to de-escalate tensions, while Qatar briefed participants on the ongoing negotiations between the DRC and the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)/M23.
On 30 April, the US imposed sanctions on former DRC President Joseph Kabila for his alleged support of the M23. Kabila returned from a self-imposed exile in 2025 and has been living in Goma, the capital of North Kivu, which is under the M23’s control. The Congolese military prosecution requested that the High Military Court impose the death penalty on Kabila, accusing him of treason, participation in an insurrectionist movement, homicide, rape, torture, and other serious crimes linked to the conflict in eastern DRC. In September 2025, the court sentenced the former president to death in absentia.
In May, the M23 reportedly withdrew from several key positions in South Kivu province under military pressure from the Congolese government and diplomatic pressure from the US. The group’s withdrawal from Uvira, a town in South Kivu located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, was viewed as a significant military development. On 7 May, the leader of the AFC—a politico-military coalition of which the M23 is a major component—reportedly sent a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing the US of bias for imposing what it described as one-sided sanctions and for failing to pressure the Congolese government to honour its commitments under the Washington process.
Following the outbreak of the Ebola virus in eastern DRC and Uganda, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) determined on 16 May that the situation constituted a public health emergency of international concern. According to the WHO, as at 15 May, 80 suspected deaths due to the virus had been reported. The outbreak is affecting densely populated areas where mining activities, insecurity, and frequent cross-border movement increases the risk of further transmission and poses operational challenges for response efforts. Media reports indicate that four of the areas affected by the virus are in Ituri province, but an Ebola case was also identified in Goma. Additionally, another Ebola case was confirmed in South Kivu, in an area close to Bukavu, the provincial capital, under the rebel group’s control.
Human Rights-Related Developments
In a 25 March press statement, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif expressed concern over the DRC’s deteriorating human rights and security situations. Al-Nashif stressed that the country is trapped in a web of crises: the proliferation of armed groups, foreign interference, ethnic tensions, and fragile governance, amid fierce competition over natural resources. From October 2025 to February, the UN Human Rights Office documented 2,560 human rights violations affecting 6,760 victims, with the actual toll likely to be considerably higher.
December 2025 saw a sharp escalation of violence in South Kivu, where fighting intensified between the AFC/M23, supported by Rwanda, on one side and the Congolese army and Wazalendo groups on the other. Among other recommendations, the Deputy High Commissioner called on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities, protect civilians, and fully respect international law. She further urged the international community to apply maximum diplomatic pressure to ensure that commitments are translated into reality.
In a 26 February press release, a group of UN Special Procedures experts warned of extreme M23 violence targeting human rights defenders in the North and South Kivu provinces of eastern DRC. Between November 2025 and February, several human rights defenders operating in the region were reportedly targeted by members of M23 and their collaborators, in direct connection with their human rights work. The experts cited allegations of attempted killings, torture, sexual violence, and death threats at the hands of the armed group. Condemning the extreme violence committed against human rights defenders, the UN experts called on the Congolese authorities to ensure prompt, impartial investigations into all allegations and to take meaningful steps to guarantee that human rights defenders in eastern DRC can carry out their work safely and without fear.
Sanctions-Related Developments
In its midterm report submitted in December 2025, the Group of Experts of the 1533 DRC sanctions regime described the M23’s efforts “to position itself as an alternative governance authority to the Congolese State, establishing administrative, judicial, fiscal and security structures and assuming core State functions”. The report also detailed joint operations conducted by the Congolese armed forces (Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo [FARDC]) and allied groups to halt M23’s advances and prevent further territorial losses. In this context, the Group referred to the continued operational support that the FARDC and allied groups have received from the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) and FDLR-aligned groups.
It seems that the final report of the Group of Experts, due by 15 June, has already been circulated to Council members. At the time of writing, Council members had not met to discuss the report and its recommendations, as the chairs of Security Council subsidiary bodies had yet to be appointed. It seems that France, the UK, and the US have proposed to add the names of six individuals and two entities to the sanctions designation list. At the time of writing, the proposal had been circulated to members and was under the non-objections procedure.
Key Issues and Options
A key issue for the Council is the insecurity in eastern DRC and progress in the ongoing mediation efforts to find a lasting solution to the situation. In this regard, they might be interested in hearing from Swan about his recent visit to eastern DRC. They may also want to receive updates on the latest state of play with regard to the Doha and Washington processes, including efforts to operationalise the ceasefire.
The extension of the 1533 DRC sanctions regime and the renewal of the Group of Experts mandate assisting the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee will be another key issue in June. This year, the DRC—which has been pushing for punitive measures against the M23 and Rwanda—will be participating in the negotiations as an elected Council member. However, achieving the necessary consensus within the Council to take these measures is not likely to be easy. A more likely option for Council members would be to agree to a straightforward extension of the sanctions regime and renewal of the Group of Experts mandate for another year.
The Ebola outbreak and its impact on the situation in eastern DRC is another key issue for Council members. In addressing the issue, members could be guided by resolution 2439 of 30 October 2018, which focused on the security and humanitarian implications of the Ebola outbreak at that time. In this regard, one possible option would be to request a briefing from the WHO to gain a better understanding of how the security situation in eastern DRC could hamper response efforts and further exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.
Council Dynamics
Council members support MONUSCO’s work in eastern DRC and the ongoing mediation efforts to address the conflict in the region. Differences have emerged, however, over a draft text proposed by France following closed consultations on the situation in eastern DRC on 17 March. The draft text aimed to address recent developments in eastern DRC and to respond to the Secretary-General’s 27 February letter, submitted pursuant to resolution 2808 of 19 December 2025, which outlined the potential scope of MONUSCO’s role in supporting the implementation of a permanent ceasefire in eastern DRC. It seems that Council members have been unable to reach agreement on the draft text. In particular, China and Russia apparently argued that the necessary conditions outlined in the Secretary-General’s letter to enable MONUSCO to assume a ceasefire monitoring role are not yet in place, maintaining that the parties must meet these conditions before the Council can consider reviewing and adjusting the mission’s posture and footprint.
The 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee approved requests by France, the UK, and the US for the designation of individuals from the M23, the FDLR, and other armed groups operating in eastern DRC on 27 September 2023 and 20 February 2024. The latest request by the three permanent members appears to stem from the final report of the Group of Experts, but it remains to be seen whether the request meets the approval of the committee.
| Security Council Resolutions | |
| 19 December 2025S/RES/2808 | This resolution renewed the mandate of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) for one year, until 20 December 2026. |
| 21 February 2025S/RES/2773 | This resolution, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, strongly condemns the ongoing offensive and advances of the M23 in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces of the DRC–calling on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) to cease support to M23 and immediately withdraw from DRC territory without preconditions. The resolution also reiterates an urgent call for all parties to conclude an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. |
| Security Council Meeting Records | |
| 26 March 2026S/PV.10126 | This was an open briefing on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). |