DR Congo conflict: 'Seize window of opportunity', says UN envoy

A senior UN official said Tuesday there is a "window of opportunity" for peace in the eastern DR Congo.

Clashes between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group have continued in eastern DR Congo, prompting renewed international diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Huang Xia, the UN special envoy for the impacted Great Lakes Region, told the Security Council that both US- and Qatar-led peace processes have achieved "notable progress."

However, "despite this sustained diplomatic effort, the security and humanitarian situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has continued to worsen."

Huang stressed the "urgency of seizing the window of opportunity, which is currently offered by the increased alignment of peace efforts."

"Such a window does not remain open indefinitely," he added.

"I therefore urge all parties to translate commitments into verifiable actions, and to place their trust in confidence built through deeds rather than through declarations."

The Congolese government and the M23 signed a commitment towards a ceasefire in Doha in July 2025, while the DRC and Rwanda formalisFed a US-brokered peace deal in December in Washington.

However, fighting has continued on the ground.

New talks were held in August in Switzerland, involving representatives from the United States, Qatar and the African Union.

Huang said the United Nations will facilitate a meeting on October 18 in Zambian capital Lusaka between the defence ministers of Burundi, the DRC, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.