Despite multiple international efforts to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the reality on the ground remains catastrophic. Recent months have seen a surge in violence that has claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, highlighting the gap between diplomatic progress and tangible security improvements.
Recent diplomatic efforts offered a glimmer of hope. In July, the Congolese government and M23 signed a declaration of principles in Doha, building on a DRC-Rwanda peace deal signed in Washington, DC, the previous month. Qatar has since attempted to broker a formal peace agreement, but the signing has not yet materialised. Ongoing issues such as the release of prisoners of war, restoration of state authority, and governance arrangements remain unresolved, with both parties accusing each other of undermining the peace process. While these efforts offer a glimmer of hope, it is clear that an agreement of the principles will not fully address the violence. DRC’s violence is fueled by deep-rooted issues, including the exploitation of natural resources, unresolved historical grievances stemming from the 1994 Rwandan genocide, citizenship disputes, and impunity for past atrocities. Without addressing these structural drivers, it is difficult for these agreements alone to create lasting peace. Complementary processes are needed.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) has been actively engaged in addressing the situation. On 22 August 2025, they held an emergency briefing. Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, warned of escalating violence, territorial gains by the M23 rebel group, and a deteriorating humanitarian crisis marked by widespread sexual and gender-based violence. Civilians have faced repeated attacks. The M23 rebel group and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have carried out assaults on villages and communities, including places of worship, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people and creating a climate of fear and insecurity.
The overall tone of the meeting reflected broad concern among Council members. In their interventions, they underscored the importance of respecting ceasefires, protecting civilians, and ensuring humanitarian access. Several highlighted the need for full compliance with Resolution 2773, adopted in February 2025 under Chapter VII, which condemned M23’s advances and Rwanda’s support for the group. Beyond this, the Council has renewed the sanctions regime and the mandate of the Group of Experts until July 2026; extended MONUSCO’s mandate until December; and has continued to hold meetings and issue statements on ceasefire violations, the deteriorating humanitarian situation, and the importance of regional cooperation. Despite these efforts, however, tensions on the ground continue to escalate. Both the Doha and Washington processes have remained closed off to civil society and broader African participation, focusing solely on the warring parties. This further risks these agreements not fully reflecting the realities on the ground or addressing the needs of affected populations.
The Council has shown its support for the ongoing peace efforts in the DRC and now is the time to build on the gains achieved in Doha and Washington. The UNSC is uniquely positioned to help ensure that negotiations move beyond ceasefires and military arrangements to address the root causes of the conflict. They have a critical role to play in broadening the negotiations. By bringing issues such as resource exploitation, accountability, civil society participation, and regional dynamics onto the table, the Council can help create the conditions for a more comprehensive and durable peace process. Progress has been made, but without sustained attention and strong pressure, these gains risk being lost by the ongoing violence.
More specifically the Council should consider:
- Leverage the Security Council’s platform to tackle root causes: Building on the Doha and Washington agreements, the Security Council and international partners should use their influence to ensure that ongoing and future negotiations address the underlying drivers of violence. Negotiations should also provide space for civil society, including human rights organisations and affected communities, to participate meaningfully.
- Ensure accountability for human rights abuses: The Council should push for thorough investigations into grave human rights violations, as without accountability such abuses are likely to continue. Relevant UN mechanisms, including the Fact-Finding Mission and the planned Commission of Inquiry, must be granted unhindered access to collect, preserve, and analyse evidence. Civil society actors should be integrated into monitoring mechanisms wherever possible to strengthen transparency and local legitimacy.
- Leverage sanctions effectively: Some sanctions are already in place through Resolution 2783 (2025). The Security Council can extend these measures to encourage the parties to return to the negotiation table. In addition, some individual Council members and other states have already implemented targeted measures, and there is scope to broaden such approaches, particularly against those responsible for the ongoing human rights violations.
