United Nations S/ PV.8584 Security Council Provisional Seventy-fourth year 8584th meeting Wednesday, 24 July 2019, 10 a.m. New York President: Mr. Meza-Cuadra ............................... (Peru) Members: Belgium ....................................... Mr. Pecsteen de Buytswerve China ......................................... Mr. Wu Haitao Côte d’Ivoire ................................... Mr. Ipo Dominican Republic .............................. Mr. Singer Weisinger Equatorial Guinea ............................... Mrs. Mele Colifa France ........................................ Mr. De Rivière Germany ...................................... Mr. Heusgen Indonesia. Mr. Djani Kuwait ........................................ Mr. Alotaibi Poland ........................................ Ms. Wronecka Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Polyanskiy South Africa ................................... Mr. Mabhongo United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .. Mr. Hickey United States of America .......................... Ms. Norman-Chalet Agenda The situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (S/2019/575) This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-0506 ([email protected]). Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org). 19-22850 (E) *1922850* S/PV.8584 The situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo 24/07/2019 The meeting was called to order at 10.05 a.m. I believe that an impartial analysis of the current environment gives rise to both satisfaction and concern. Adoption of the agenda I would like to reiterate the message of hope The agenda was adopted. and optimism that I have consistently brought to the Council. President Tshisekedi has clearly expressed The situation concerning the Democratic Republic his intention to initiate bold reforms, which, if fully of the Congo implemented, should lead to strengthening Congolese Report of the Secretary-General on the institutions and improving the living conditions of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Congolese people. Mission in the Democratic Republic of the We have also noted a gradual improvement in Congo (S/2019/575) relations between the Democratic Republic of the The President (spoke in Spanish): In accordance Congo and its neighbours since the inauguration of with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of President Tshisekedi. In keeping with his determination procedure, I invite the representative of the Democratic to transform the Great Lakes region into a haven of Republic of the Congo to participate in this meeting. peace and development through the promotion of good neighbourly relations and regional economic In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s integration, the Head of State is actively engaged in provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Leila diplomatic initiatives with the countries of the region Zerrougui, Special Representative of the Secretary- to achieve that goal. General and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the I will continue to work closely in that regard with Congo, to participate in this meeting. the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region and with relevant regional organizations to support the Congolese Ms. Zerrougui is joining the meeting via video- authorities in implementing the commitments contained teleconference from Kinshasa. in the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for The Security Council will now begin its the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region. consideration of the item on its agenda. Although the Prime Minister was appointed on I wish to draw the attention of Council members to 20 May, we are still awaiting the formation of a new document S/2019/575, which contains the report of the Government. Painstaking negotiations on that subject Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization are continuing between the two platforms of the ruling Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of coalition — the Cap pour le changement of President the Congo. Tshisekedi and the Front commun pour le Congo of former President Joseph Kabila. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear briefings by Ms. Zerrougui and Ambassador Mansour We understand that the process is unprecedented Alotaibi, Permanent Representative of Kuwait, in his for the country. Nevertheless, I call on stakeholders capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee to overcome their differences so that they can quickly established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) meet the expectations of the Congolese people. The concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo. absence of an operational Government is detrimental to the establishment of strong relationships with partners I now give the floor to Ms. Zerrougui. and the implementation of important governance Ms. Zerrougui (spoke in French): I welcome the and institutional reforms that could contribute opportunity to speak to the Council about the situation to the consolidation of a transitional process that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to brief remains fragile. you on the progress made in the post-electoral transition In recent months, I have met with key stakeholders process and the main challenges we continue to face. in the process and urged them to preserve the gains More than six months after the December 2018 made during the elections and the peaceful transfer elections, it is a good moment to review the progress of power and to make the necessary concessions to made and examine the political situation in the country. finalize the composition of the Government. I would 2/23 19-22850 24/07/2019 The situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo S/PV.8584 also like to point out that we have seen constructive an ever-increasing concern and has claimed the lives approaches at the local level, with significant initiatives of more than 1,700 people to date. Recent isolated to promote stability and development being taken by cases, both in Goma and across the border in Uganda, some governors. have heightened concerns about its spread outside the Beni and Butembo areas, leading the World Health (spoke in English) Organization to declare the epidemic a public health In the context of the eventual exit of the United emergency of international concern. Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the I take this opportunity to underline that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), problems faced in eradicating that disease are not only the Mission has closed a number of field offices in epidemiological in nature; they are linked as well to areas where there is no longer a serious threat of a variety of political and social factors, including the armed conflict. That will permit us to concentrate our activities of armed groups such as the ADF and Mai resources on providing support to the strengthening Mai, along with continuing high levels of community of State institutions and to the protection of civilians distrust of the response to the epidemic. That confluence in areas where conflict and activities of armed groups of factors has resulted in a deadly environment for the continue to have a devastating impact on civilians. people working to counter Ebola, to the point that some The report (S/2019/575) before the Council of them have been specifically threatened and killed by provides a detailed account of the security situation. armed groups. Over the course of the past weeks, however, the level I would like to thank countries and donors for their of violence has increased in several areas in the eastern generosity, which has helped to fund the Ebola response, part of the country. I am concerned in that regard with and I call on everyone to generously support the fourth the current situation in Ituri province, where spoilers strategic response plan for the Ebola virus disease, are seeking to exploit ethnic tensions in order to which was just presented to member States in Geneva instigate intercommunal violence. In addition, attacks last week. I would also like to underline the serious need by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) continue to for financing the response to other epidemiological and exact an intolerable toll on civilians. Armed groups in humanitarian crises that the Democratic Republic of the Masisi, including the Nduma défense du Congo-Rénové Congo is facing. The measles outbreak, for example, (NDC-R) of Guidon Shimiray Mwissa, are responsible has already claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people for atrocities, notably conflict-related sexual violence, since the beginning of this year, even more than Ebola. committed against the population. In response to those challenges, we are leading a Violence continues to be the main cause of One United Nations approach that combines a number humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of of different tools. At both the national and provincial the Congo. As a result, the country