UN official says ‘window of opportunity’ for peace in DR Congo

Key points

• A UN official told the Security Council there is a 'window of opportunity' for peace in eastern DR Congo.
• Huang Xia said US- and Qatar-led peace processes have made 'notable progress' but the security situation keeps worsening.
• The UN will facilitate an October 18 meeting in Lusaka between defence ministers of Burundi, DR Congo, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.

A senior United Nations official has told the Security Council that a 'window of opportunity' for peace exists in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, a mineral-rich region affected by decades of conflict. Huang Xia, the UN special envoy for the Great Lakes Region, said US- and Qatar-led peace efforts have achieved 'notable progress'.

Huang warned, however, that despite sustained diplomatic work, the security and humanitarian situation in eastern DR Congo has continued to worsen. He said the window is opened by increased alignment of peace efforts and must be seized.

Diplomatic efforts and agreements

Several parties, including the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group and the Congolese army, have clashed in the territory, prompting international diplomatic efforts. The Congolese government and M23 signed a commitment towards a ceasefire in Doha in July 2025, and the DRC and Rwanda formalised a US-brokered peace deal in December in Washington, DC.

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

Such a window does not remain open indefinitely

— Huang Xia

What the UN envoy said

Huang stressed the urgency of seizing the window of opportunity, saying such a window does not remain open indefinitely. He urged all parties to turn commitments into verifiable actions and to build trust through deeds rather than declarations.

Huang said the UN would facilitate a meeting on October 18 in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, between the defence ministers of Burundi, the DR Congo, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.