Resolution 2808 (2025) extends the mandate of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) until December 20, 2026, maintaining an authorized personnel ceiling of 11,500 military personnel, 600 military observers and staff officers, 443 police officers and 1,270 members of formed police units.
According to the resolution, MONUSCO’s main area of operations remains North Kivu and Ituri, with any deployment related to monitoring the ceasefire in South Kivu being subject to security conditions and prior notification to the Council.
The mission force intervention brigade was also renewed on an “exceptional” basis, with the Council emphasizing that a precedent had been created. The specialized force was created in 2013 and tasked with disrupting and disarming armed groups.
The resolution also highlights what it calls a “rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian crisis” in eastern DRC due to the M23 armed group (March 23 Movement) offensive in North Kivu and South Kivu “with the support and direct participation of the Rwandan Defense Forces”.
It further condemns the group’s capture of Uvira, a strategic town in South Kivu on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, warning that it risks destabilizing the region as a whole.
What MONUSCO is responsible for
- Protect civilians under threat of physical violence, in particular through a proactive attitude, early warning, community engagement and local mediation.
- Use “all necessary measures” to prevent, deter and stop attacks against civiliansincluding in and around displacement and refugee sites.
- Neutralize armed groups through targeted offensive operations by the Force Intervention Brigade, acting alone or jointly with the Congolese forces.
- Support a permanent ceasefireincluding helping to implement and monitor the Doha Ceasefire Monitoring and Verification Mechanism and supporting regional verification efforts.
- Assisting in disarmament, demobilization and reintegrationsecurity sector reform, as well as monitoring and reporting violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
- Help monitor the arms embargoincluding by observing and reporting cross-border flows of arms and related materiel to Group of experts established by resolution 1533.
Read the full text of the resolution here.
National Perspectives
France, responsible for the file, said the council negotiated the project in “unusual circumstances” as the M23 continued its offensive in South Kivu.
“Given the seriousness and urgency of the situation, and following this resolution, France calls on all parties to honor their commitments to achieve lasting peace in the east of the DRC and in the Great Lakes region,” declared Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont, presenting the text.
The United States said negotiations had been “once again disrupted” by advances by the M23 “backed by the Rwandan Defense Forces,” and urged the group to meet its Doha commitments.
“The M23 must immediately withdraw at least 75 km from Uvira and re-comply with all its obligations undertaken in the framework agreement,” said Jennifer Locetta, Ambassador and Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs.
China and Russia, while supporting the renewal, stressed that the mandate was the product of difficult compromises and warned against politicization of the mission.
Sun Lei, ambassador and deputy permanent representative of China, said the council should respect the “independence, neutrality and authority” of the operation.
He stressed that China “firmly supports” the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the DRC, adding that “all countries outside the region should remain truly committed to peace in eastern DRC and stop taking advantage of the situation and seeking economic resources and other selfish interests.”
Speaking on behalf of Russia, Anna Evstigneeva, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, said her country expected detailed proposals on the modalities of MONUSCO’s role in monitoring the ceasefire by March 1, 2026, while also calling on all parties to comply with their obligations under Council resolutions.
“We call on the parties to ceasefire, to honor their obligations to implement Security Council Resolution 2773, which sets out key solutions to resolve this conflict for the benefit of the millions of inhabitants of the DRC and other countries in the region,” she said.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
