United Nations Security Council Resolution 2136 – Democratic Republic of the Congo

Resolution 2136 (2014)

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC as well as all States in the region and emphasizing the need to respect fully the principles of non-interference, good neighbourliness and regional cooperation,

Stressing the primary responsibility of the Government of the DRC for ensuring security in its territory and protecting its civilians with respect for the rule of law, human rights and international humanitarian law,

Taking note of the interim report (S/2013/433) and the final report (S/2014/42) of the Group of Experts on the DRC (“the Group of Experts”) established pursuant to resolution 1771 (2007) and extended pursuant to resolutions 1807 (2008), 1857 (2008), 1896 (2009), 1952 (2010), 2021 (2011) and 2078 (2012) and of their recommendations,

Welcoming the declaration of the end of the 23 March Movement (M23), the corresponding declaration by the Government of DRC, and the signing in Nairobi on 12 December 2013 of the documents concluding the Kampala talks facilitated by Uganda as president of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), while stressing the importance of ensuring that the M23 does not regroup and resume military activities, in line with the Nairobi declarations and relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions,

Reiterating its deep concern regarding the security and humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC due to ongoing military activities of foreign and domestic armed groups, stressing the importance of neutralizing all armed groups, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and various Mayi Mayi groups, in line with resolution 2098 (2013),

Reiterating its strong condemnation of any and all internal or external support to armed groups active in the region, including through financial, logistical and military support,

Condemning the illicit flow of weapons within and into the DRC in violation of resolutions 1533 (2004), 1807 (2008), 1857 (2008), 1896 (2009), 1952 (2010), 2021 (2011) and 2078 (2012), and declaring its determination to continue to monitor closely the implementation of the arms embargo and other measures set out by its resolutions concerning the DRC,

Acknowledging in this respect the important contribution the Council-mandated arms embargo makes to countering the illicit transfer of small arms and light weapons in the DRC, and in supporting post-conflict peacebuilding, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform,

Recalling the linkage between the illegal exploitation of natural resources, including poaching and illegal trafficking of wildlife, illicit trade in such resources, and the proliferation and trafficking of arms as one of the major factors fuelling and exacerbating conflicts in the Great Lakes region of Africa, and encouraging the continuation of the regional efforts of the ICGLR and the governments involved against the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and stressing, in this regard, the importance of regional cooperation and deepening economic integration with special consideration for the exploitation of natural resources,

Noting with great concern the persistence of serious human rights abuses and humanitarian law violations against civilians in the eastern part of the DRC, including summary executions, sexual and gender based violence and large scale recruitment and use of children committed by armed groups,

Noting with deep concern reports and allegations indicating the persistence of serious human rights and international humanitarian law violations committed by Congolese armed forces (FARDC), including those committed with impunity,

Noting with deep concern reports indicating FARDC collaboration with the FDLR at a local level, recalling that the FDLR is a group under United Nations sanctions whose leaders and members include perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which Hutu and others who opposed the genocide were also killed, and have continued to promote and commit ethnically based and other killings in Rwanda and in the DRC, and stressing the importance of permanently addressing this threat,

Calling for all those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations or abuses of human rights, as applicable, including those involving violence or abuses against children and acts of sexual and gender-based violence, to be swiftly apprehended, brought to justice and held accountable,

Welcoming the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General as well as of the ICGLR, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU), to restore peace and security in eastern DRC,

Welcoming the signing in Addis Ababa on 24 February 2013 of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region (“the PSC Framework”) and the nomination of Special Envoy Mary Robinson, and reiterating the need for all signatories to fulfil promptly, fully and in good faith their respective commitments,

Taking note of the Declaration of the Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the ICGLR on the Promotion of Peace, Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region held in Luanda on 15 January 2014,

Recalling all its relevant resolutions on women and peace and security, on children and armed conflict, and on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts,

Calling on all parties to cooperate fully with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), reiterating its condemnation of any attacks against peacekeepers, and emphasizing that those responsible for such attacks must be brought to justice,

Determining that the situation in the DRC continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

Adopted by the Security Council at its 7107th meeting, on 30 January 2014