The UN Security Council has received an urgent appeal from MONUSCO chief James Swan regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo. Speaking from New York, Swan called on all Congolese stakeholders to unite around an inclusive national dialogue framework while emphasizing the critical need to safeguard civic space and fundamental freedoms—particularly freedom of expression and assembly—to ensure all voices can be heard in a peaceful and secure environment.

The timing of this intervention is particularly significant as the country remains deeply divided over constitutional reforms, and tensions have recently escalated with incidents at the CENCO headquarters in Kinshasa.

On the security front, the UN diplomat welcomed the establishment of a national commission to oversee security sector reform and highlighted progress on the country’s first-ever national security policy, currently being finalized under presidential leadership.