New York (TDI): Pakistan has urged the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda to prioritize the path of diplomacy and dialogue, and demonstrate political will for a lasting peace in the region.
During a Security Council briefing on the situation in the DRC, Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate Asim Iftikhar Ahmad noted that the collaborative environment, formed under the auspices of the UN and managed by the African Union Peace and Security Council alongside other sub-regional peace initiatives, is ideal for constructive dialogue toward peace.
He applauded the local Luanda and Nairobi processes which have been able to drive breakthroughs on the bumpy road of lasting peace in the DRC and Great Lakes Region.
Pakistan has urged the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda to demonstrate political will, genuine commitment, and cooperation—particularly in implementing UN Security Council resolutions, decisions of the African Union Peace and Security Council, and directives from… pic.twitter.com/60qEbpYLVb
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) March 27, 2025
Ambassador Asim also expressed concern on the “non-implementation” of ceasefire by all warring parties especially the Congolese Revolutionary Army and its M23 Rebellion, which is jeopardizing peace efforts in the region.
“M23’s military offensive, with external support, has imperiled peace and security, upended lives of innocent civilians, exacerbated the humanitarian situation, thus drastically increasing the risk of a wider escalation in the Great Lakes region,” he noted with concern.
Delivering Pakistan’s official stance on DRC and Rwanda, Ambassador Asim also highlighted the peacekeepers efforts in the conflict zone of DRC, “MONUSCO continues to have a critical role in eastern DRC.”
Read More: Pakistan Backs UN Resolution for DR Congo Peace
MONUSCO is the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo, stationed since 2010, and the successor of the earlier UN Mission called MONUC.
The conflict in DRC is as old as 1996 when rebellion was fueled by Hutu extremists, who crossed into eastern Congo during Rwanda’s genocide, and started organizing militias. Since then, this eastern border region has not seen peace.
Just at the beginning of this year, the M23 militia groups took over Goma – an important city in eastern Congo, from the Congolese army and intense fighting broke out before and after the capture.
Currently, twenty one million in the country are in need of urgent medical and food aid.
Nuzhat Rana is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
