The President of the National Assembly, Aimé Boji Sangara, dedicated a significant portion of his address during the closing of the March ordinary session on Monday, June 15, 2026, to the alarming security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, which he described as the primary concern of the national representation.

From the outset, he emphasized the gravity of the situation on the ground. The Speaker of the Lower House expressed the Assembly’s deep concern over the ongoing armed violence, particularly in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of these conflicts.

The security situation in the east of our country remains the main concern for national representation. As we conclude these sessions, our thoughts immediately turn to the east. Rwandan aggression, through its terrorist group AFC/M23, along with the horrific massacres carried out by ADF terrorists, continue to spill the blood of our compatriots.

Consistent with this stance, Aimé Boji Sangara reaffirmed the National Assembly’s firm condemnation of the persistent armed violence and attacks targeting civilians.

The President of the Lower House also paid tribute to the defense and security forces, as well as the self-defense groups fighting alongside the Congolese army.

From this podium, the National Assembly reiterates its strongest condemnation of this unjust and deadly war. It is also an opportunity to pay a solemn tribute to our armed forces, the FARDC, and the Voluntary Defense of the Homeland, the Wazalendo, who fight day and night at great personal risk. To the suffering populations of South Kivu, North Kivu, and Ituri, we say: the Nation has not forgotten you.

In particularly strong terms, Aimé Boji Sangara called for an immediate end to hostilities and foreign interference in the east of the country. He further reaffirmed the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s determination to preserve its territorial integrity.

The elected representative from Walungu in South Kivu and President of the National Assembly urged Kigali to recognize the regional necessity of prioritizing sustainable peace between neighbors.

To the Rwandan aggressors and their AFC/M23 affiliates, we say it is time for the Rwandan authorities to halt their destabilization maneuvers, cease the plundering of our resources, and immediately end the extermination of our people. Neither expansionist ambitions nor violence will succeed in undermining our sovereignty. No portion of our territory will ever be ceded. Rwanda must understand that geography condemns us to be neighbors for eternity. War will only perpetuate a hatred whose price will be paid by future generations, while only sustainable peace will benefit all.

The security situation in this part of the country continues to deteriorate. Despite the Washington Agreement, brokered under the auspices of the United States, and the Doha process, led under the aegis of Qatar with the support of the African Union, as well as the succession of evaluation meetings, the security and humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remains dire. Civilian populations across the country continue to suffer the consequences of violence and forced displacement, further aggravating an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in a global context marked by declining funding for humanitarian aid.

In response to this situation, voices at the national, regional, and international levels continue to call on all stakeholders to honor the commitments made within peace initiatives. However, these appeals have, so far, yielded no tangible results. The gap between the realities on the ground and the diplomatic progress recorded on paper remains unbridgeable. Each party continues to interpret the agreements according to their own reading, rendering their implementation increasingly uncertain.