Aimé Boji Sangara, speaker of the National Assembly, commended the resilience of communities affected by armed conflicts in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo while reaffirming parliament’s unwavering stance on national unity and territorial integrity.

In a speech delivered on Monday, June 15, 2026, at the closing of the ordinary session of March 2026, he first paid tribute to internally displaced persons and refugees, whose humanitarian situation remains alarming. Addressing the populations of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, he conveyed a message of solidarity and hope in the face of trials caused by armed conflict.

“This is an opportunity to honor the remarkable resilience of our internally displaced and refugee compatriots. Their suffering remains at the heart of the National Representation’s concerns. Allow me to address a message of solidarity and hope to our brothers and sisters in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, who continue to show resilience and resistance against the hardships imposed by Rwandan troops and their auxiliaries, the AFC/M23,” he stated.

Speaking in both Swahili and French, the speaker of the lower house reaffirmed the unbreakable belonging of the eastern part of the country to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, asserting that the occupation cannot be permanent.

“North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri are and will always remain integral parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is a blessed gift from God, a sacred heritage bequeathed by our ancestors. We are convinced that the illegal occupation our country suffers in its eastern region is neither definitive nor irreversible. Like any unjust situation in the history of peoples, this barbaric occupation will come to an end.”

Addressing those who advocate for the balkanization of the country, Aimé Boji Sangara warned against any attempt to undermine national unity or the allegiance of populations living in occupied areas. He reaffirmed the enduring bond among Congolese people despite the current security situation marked by the war of aggression and occupation attributed to AFC/M23, supported by Rwanda.

“This is the place to declare loudly to all those who believe that our brothers and sisters living in occupied territories can renounce their national belonging or conspire against the homeland: they are mistaken, because we remain in perfect communion with them and continue to tirelessly defend together national unity, territorial integrity, and the sovereignty of our country. Indeed, our greatest weapon against adversity is not only military; it is above all our high sense of patriotism, our national unity, and our resilience,” he declared.

He rejected any attempt to divide or manipulate the populations of eastern Congo. He reaffirmed the indivisible nature of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the determination of institutions to defend every inch of the national territory.

“Let the dark forces that aggress our country in the east and try to confuse our compatriots living in occupied spaces know that we will oppose them with an impassable wall of solidarity. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one, indivisible, and plural. Whether you are in Goma, Muanda, Gemena, or Lubumbashi, the blood flowing in the east is ours. National unity is not an empty word; it is the cement of our survival and our greatness. Let them know well that we will defend ourselves to the last square meter of our territory,” he insisted.

The security situation in this part of the country continues to deteriorate. Despite the existence of the Washington Agreement, obtained under the aegis of the United States, as well as the Doha process led under the auspices of the State of Qatar, with support from the African Union, and despite successive evaluation meetings, the security and humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remains alarming. Civilian populations in this corner of the country continue to be the main victims of violence and forced displacement, further worsening an already catastrophic humanitarian situation in a global context marked by reduced funding for humanitarian aid.

Faced with this situation, voices continue to be raised at national, regional, and international levels calling on the various stakeholders to respect commitments made under peace initiatives. However, these appeals remain, so far, without significant effect. The goal of reducing the persistent gap between ground realities and diplomatic progress on paper remains elusive. Each party continues to interpret the provisions of the accords according to its own reading, making their implementation ever more uncertain.