Mogadishu — Somalia, currently serving as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), has welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement signed between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 armed group. The agreement, reached on Saturday, is seen as a significant step toward ending the protracted violence in eastern DRC.
In an official statement issued by the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mogadishu praised the ceasefire as a “positive development that holds promise for restoring peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.”
Somalia expressed its strong support for diplomatic and peaceful solutions to regional conflicts and called on all parties to honor their commitments.
“The Somali government commends both sides for reaching this important agreement. As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Somalia reaffirms its commitment to upholding international peace and security and encourages further efforts to ensure lasting peace in the DRC,” the statement read.
The ceasefire comes after months of intensified fighting between Congolese government forces and the M23 rebels, which has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and exacerbated humanitarian crises in North Kivu province. Regional and international actors, including the African Union and the United Nations, have been pushing for a peaceful resolution.
Somalia also reiterated the need for continued humanitarian assistance to affected communities and stressed the importance of inclusive political dialogue and regional cooperation.
The UNSC is expected to monitor the implementation of the agreement closely, with Somalia playing an active role in supporting peacekeeping and conflict resolution measures under its current mandate.