Thank you, President. Let me begin by thanking SRSG Keita for her briefing today, as well as Ms Jacquie-Anna for her remarks.
I have three points I wish to make in response. First, the United Kingdom commends SRSG Keita and MONUSCO for their continued efforts in increasingly difficult circumstances. Attacks on UN helicopters, convoys and personnel are unacceptable. We urge all parties to immediately end attacks on peacekeeping troops and deconflict activities to allow MONUSCO to fulfil its mandate.
Second, MONUSCO's withdrawal from South Kivu risks leaving a security vacuum. We urge the government of the DRC to assume its protection responsibilities for the civilian population which is increasingly vulnerable to armed group attacks. MONUSCO's capacity-building activities with the government of DRC remain critical. We encourage the UN to continue to share its honest assessment of the withdrawal process with the Council to inform our decision-making.
Third, the United Kingdom condemns, in the strongest terms, the actions of all armed groups, including the continued advance of the UN-sanctioned, M23. We reiterate our full support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC. We call on external actors to end their support for violent armed groups in DRC, including M23, whose activities have resulted in mass civilian displacement.
Without serious efforts on all sides to de-escalate and end hostilities, the devastating humanitarian impact of the conflict will continue. The United Kingdom has pledged $126 million to be delivered through a three-year Humanitarian Programme, working closely with partners to address this enormous need.
President, to conclude, the United Kingdom notes the arrival of regional SADC force, SAMIDRC, and we stress the importance of its being anchored to a regional political process like the Luanda process. Peaceful dialogue and committed engagement to regional processes are the best routes to peace in DRC and, in this regard, we welcome the positive steps towards this made recently in Angola.
