According to the resolution, MONUSCO’s main area of operations remains North Kivu and Ituri, and any deployment linked to monitoring the ceasefire in South Kivu is subject to security conditions and prior notification to the Council.
The mission’s Force Intervention Brigade was also renewed on an “exceptional” basis, with the Council stressing that a precedent had been created. The specialized force was created in 2013 and had the task of disrupting and disarming armed groups.
The resolution also highlights what it calls a “rapidly deteriorating humanitarian and security crisis” in eastern DRC due to the armed group M23 (Movement of the 23rd of Mars) offensive in North Kivu and South Kivu “with the direct support and participation of the Rwandan Defense Forces.”
It further condemns the group’s takeover of Uvira, a strategic town in South Kivu on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, warning that it risks destabilizing the wider region.
What tasks does MONUSCO have?
- Protect threatened civilians of physical violence, including through proactive stance, early warning, community participation and local mediation.
- Use “all necessary measures” to prevent, deter and stop attacks against civilians.including in and around displacement and refugee sites.
- Neutralize armed groups through selective offensive operations by the Force Intervention Brigade, acting alone or jointly with Congolese forces.
- Support a permanent ceasefireincluding helping to implement and monitor the Doha ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism and supporting regional verification efforts.
- Assist with disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.security sector reform and monitoring and reporting on human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law.
- Help monitor the arms embargoincluding observing and reporting on cross-border flows of weapons and related material to the Group of Experts established by resolution 1533.
Read the full text of the resolution here.
National perspectives
France, the drafter of the dossier, said the Council negotiated the draft in “unusual circumstances” as the M23 continued its offensive in South Kivu.
“In light of the seriousness and urgency of the situation, and following this resolution, France calls on all parties to fulfill their commitments to achieve lasting peace in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the Great Lakes region,” said Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont when presenting the text.
The United States said negotiations were “once again disrupted” by M23 advances “supported by the Rwanda Defense Forces” and urged the group to honor its commitments under Doha.
“The M23 must immediately withdraw at least 75 kilometers from Uvira and return to compliance with all its obligations assumed in the Framework Agreement,” said Jennifer Locetta, Ambassador and Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs.
China and Russia, while supporting the renewal, emphasized that the mandate was the product of difficult compromises and warned against politicizing the mission.
Sun Lei, ambassador and deputy permanent representative of China, said the council should uphold the “independence, neutrality and authority” of the operation.
He stressed that China “firmly supports” the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, adding that “all countries outside the region must remain truly committed to peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo 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 1 March 2026, while calling on all parties to fulfill their obligations under Council resolutions.
“We call on the parties to cease fire and fulfill their obligations to implement Security Council resolution 2773, which details key solutions to resolve this conflict for the benefit of millions of residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in the region,” he said.