Statement by the Delegation of Brazil at the UNSC meeting on the situation in the Great Lakes region - April 27th, 2022

First, let me convey the gratitude of the Brazilian delegation to all the briefers for the insights they shared with the Security Council today.

We have followed the most recent developments in the region attentively, and we wish to make a few remarks on the security situation and on a number of aspects of the peace process, as follows.

Security remains a matter of great concern to us. The threat posed by armed groups to the countries of the Great Lakes region is still tangible, as the tragic events of 5 April in Ituri, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have demonstrated. In that particular regard, I wish to reiterate our condemnation of such an ominous act, as well as of any attacks and provocations against the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition to the risks posed for the lives of peacekeepers, the armed groups’ activities, which unfortunately seem to be on the rise, have a destabilizing effect on local communities from various perspectives, ranging from human rights to economic development. Since those activities often result in sexual violence, the lack of access to humanitarian aid, the recruitment of children in armed conflict and illicit exploitation of natural resources — just to name a few of the troubling realities on the ground — they can jeopardize the ongoing efforts to reach sustained peace.

In order to protect the achievements of the peace process made so far, it is imperative to expedite the implementation of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that former combatants, women and young people have access to economic opportunities that provide them with the tools to improve their livelihood conditions in the post-pandemic period. In that vein, I would like to voice our support for the Special Envoy and highlight the contribution of the United Nations Strategy for Peace Consolidation, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution in the Great Lakes Region in bringing coherence and comprehensiveness to peacebuilding initiatives.

We also wish to emphasize the importance of local ownership to attaining lasting peace and prosperity in the region. In that regard, we commend the leading and constructive role played by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moreover, we commend the leadership provided by Kenya at the Heads of State conclave on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We hope that their role as facilitators in the dialogue between the armed groups and the Government in Kinshasa will soon bear fruit. Another positive development that we want to welcome is the admission of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the East African Community at the end of March, since it opens up yet another avenue to strengthen regional cooperation in the long term.

Finally, we call upon all States in the region to persevere in the path of an inclusive political dialogue. No durable solution can be found without the meaningful participation of all stakeholders, including women.