FELIX TSHISEKEDI, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said that multilateralism and respect for a global rules-based system have been the essential pillars that have supported peace, health and prosperity for the last 80 years.  “We have a responsibility to pool our efforts and to reaffirm our commitment to multilateralism,” he stressed, expressing concern for the alarming rise in armed conflicts and looting of natural resources.  While the current digital revolution presents unprecedented opportunity, global reforms are required and must involve a reassessment of the international financial architecture. Youth is a major asset for Africa’s future, he continued, noting that investing in education and creating conducive environments for innovation are crucial.

“The resurgence of the M23 terrorist groups supported by Rwanda has caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with close to 7 million internally displaced persons,” he said.  This aggression is a major violation of national sovereignty.  “We call upon the international community to firmly condemn these actions and to impose targeted sanctions against Rwanda,” he said, demanding an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Rwandan troops from his country’s territory.  Beyond immediate humanitarian aid for the millions of people in need, a long-term approach focused on justice, reconciliation and sustainable development is essential to allow the victims to recover and to return to a decent life.

Terrorism, which is raging in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is closely linked to the looting and illegal exploitation of its natural resources, he said.  These criminal activities are nourishing insecurity and financing armed groups, exacerbating conflicts in the Great Lakes region.  He called on the United Nations to apply severe sanctions against those responsible for these economic crimes.  The good news is that reforms to ensure free basic education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have allowed more than 4 million children to attend school.  Still, the Democratic Republic of the Congo will not be able to achieve the SDGs by 2030 due to persisting inequality.  He underscored the importance of financial and technical support and shared the various ways the country is working to preserve natural resources, including its tropical forests.  It is crucial to recognize the link between climate change, environmental degradation and security to foster proactive action, he went on to say.

On gender equality, he said the Democratic Republic of the Congo is determined to change mentalities and to overcome social barriers that are hampering women from prospering.  The Government is dedicated to passing legislation that guarantees women are adequately protected in society.  “We’re also seeing increased presence of women in governmental bodies, as well as in the judicial system and the Parliament,” he said.  It is equally vital to “breathe new life into multilateralism” through targeted reforms of the Security Council as well as the use of the veto power.  He further requested two permanent seats on the Security Council for African countries.