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NEW YORK — September 23, 2026 — Democratic Republic of the Congo Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka used the podium of the 81st United Nations General Assembly to press for implementation of existing international commitments on the conflict in eastern DRC, arguing that the priority is no longer adopting new texts but enforcing those already agreed.


Speaking on behalf of President Félix Tshisekedi, Suminwa pointed to UN Security Council Resolution 2773 (2025), the Washington peace agreement, the Doha process and the African Union framework as mechanisms that now need to produce measurable results on the ground.

We are not waiting for new texts to replace those that have already been adopted. We are waiting for their implementation,” Suminwa said, according to Congolese reporting on the address.

Suminwa puts Resolution 2773 at center of DRC message

Resolution 2773 was unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council on February 21, 2025. It condemned M23's offensives in North and South Kivu with the support of the Rwanda Defence Forces and called on the RDF to cease support for M23 and immediately withdraw from Congolese territory without preconditions.


It also requires M23 to cease hostilities, withdraw from areas under its control and reverse the establishment of parallel administrations.


At the same time, the resolution calls for the DRC to end support by its military forces to armed groups, particularly the FDLR, and urgently implement commitments to neutralize the group.


Suminwa told the General Assembly that, despite the diplomatic frameworks established since then, peace remains a promise rather than a reality for millions of Congolese.


She cited the resolution's requirements for an effective cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of Rwandan forces, an end to support for armed groups, AFC/M23 disengagement, dismantling of parallel administrations, restoration of state authority, unhindered humanitarian access and the safe return of displaced people and refugees.


Kinshasa wants verification and consequences for violations

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Neema Asha Mwakalinga

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Neema Asha Mwakalinga

Travel & Culture Expert

Sep 24, 2026

Sep 24, 2026

5 min read

At UNGA81, Judith Suminwa called for enforcement of Resolution 2773, independent verification and consequences for violations in eastern DRC.

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NEW YORK — September 23, 2026 — Democratic Republic of the Congo Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka used the podium of the 81st United Nations General Assembly to press for implementation of existing international commitments on the conflict in eastern DRC, arguing that the priority is no longer adopting new texts but enforcing those already agreed.


Speaking on behalf of President Félix Tshisekedi, Suminwa pointed to UN Security Council Resolution 2773 (2025), the Washington peace agreement, the Doha process and the African Union framework as mechanisms that now need to produce measurable results on the ground.

We are not waiting for new texts to replace those that have already been adopted. We are waiting for their implementation,” Suminwa said, according to Congolese reporting on the address.

Suminwa puts Resolution 2773 at center of DRC message

Resolution 2773 was unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council on February 21, 2025. It condemned M23's offensives in North and South Kivu with the support of the Rwanda Defence Forces and called on the RDF to cease support for M23 and immediately withdraw from Congolese territory without preconditions.


It also requires M23 to cease hostilities, withdraw from areas under its control and reverse the establishment of parallel administrations.


At the same time, the resolution calls for the DRC to end support by its military forces to armed groups, particularly the FDLR, and urgently implement commitments to neutralize the group.


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Suminwa told the General Assembly that, despite the diplomatic frameworks established since then, peace remains a promise rather than a reality for millions of Congolese.


She cited the resolution's requirements for an effective cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of Rwandan forces, an end to support for armed groups, AFC/M23 disengagement, dismantling of parallel administrations, restoration of state authority, unhindered humanitarian access and the safe return of displaced people and refugees.


Kinshasa wants verification and consequences for violations

Suminwa called for the Washington, Doha and African Union mechanisms to be implemented in a coordinated manner.


Her proposals included a clear implementation timetable, independent verification, regular information-sharing and consequences when commitments are violated.

Congolese coverage of the speech described this as a push to move beyond diplomatic declarations and toward mechanisms capable of determining whether the parties are actually complying with what they have signed.


The message places compliance and verification at the center of Kinshasa's diplomatic strategy: existing agreements, the government argues, should be measured against developments on the ground rather than replaced by another round of declarations.

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FDLR also addressed

Suminwa also addressed the FDLR issue, which Rwanda has repeatedly cited as a security concern.


The Prime Minister said the DRC was assuming its responsibilities regarding the group. She referred to a May 30, 2026 protocol providing for disarmament, demobilization and cantonment of FDLR members ahead of repatriation or relocation, as well as the September 8 repatriation of 120 people associated with the FDLR with MONUSCO support.


Kinshasa's position is that implementation of its commitments concerning the FDLR should not be used to postpone the other obligations contained in the peace arrangements and Resolution 2773.


What Resolution 2773 actually says

The Security Council calls on the Rwanda Defence Forces to cease support for M23 and withdraw immediately and without preconditions from the DRC. It requires M23 to cease hostilities and withdraw from controlled areas.


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The resolution also calls for an end to support from Congolese military forces to specified armed groups, particularly the FDLR, and for urgent implementation of commitments to neutralize that group.


DRC says the issue is now implementation

Suminwa's UNGA81 intervention shifts the emphasis from negotiating additional declarations to enforcing commitments already on the books.


For Kinshasa, the test is whether the Washington agreement, Doha process, African Union mechanisms and Resolution 2773 can translate into verifiable changes in eastern DRC.


The Prime Minister's message was that implementation should come with timelines, independent verification and consequences for breaches.


The address was delivered on Wednesday, September 23, during the UN General Assembly's general debate in New York. WATCH FULL SPEECH VIA RTNC

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