HAMILTON, Canada 

The UN welcomed a peace agreement that was signed Friday by the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda in Washington as "a major step forward" toward ending the prolonged conflict in the region.

"As tensions persist, the front lines and negotiations are shifting, opening up a path to peace," Bintou Keita, the secretary-general's envoy in Congo and chief of the UN mission in Congo (MONUSCO), told the UN Security Council.

Hailing the signing of a US-brokered peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, Keita said it is "a major step toward ending the conflict."

"I would like to commend the tireless efforts of the US in facilitating this agreement, which marks a decisive step toward peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the Great Lakes region," she added.

Keita urged regional leaders to "promote a climate of tolerance," adding: "We need to promote dialogue rather than division, and actively work towards national cohesion."

She reiterated her appeal for lawmakers to adopt legislation against tribalism, racism and xenophobia, calling it "an essential step towards preventing the abuses which threaten national unity."

Highlighting humanitarian challenges, Keita warned that the situation in the DRC "is untenable throughout the country," with 27.8 million people facing food insecurity and 1.4 million children suffering from acute malnutrition.

She noted that the humanitarian response plan for 2024 is only 11% funded, following the suspension of funding from a key donor that previously covered 70% of the response.

"The path to lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo requires shared responsibility. It demands collective action," said Keita.

Despite recent progress in MONUSCO’s operational capacity, Keita emphasized that the mission is ready to support peace efforts, "sustained by the decisions and will of this Council."

The DRC and Rwanda signed the peace agreement to end the deadly fighting in eastern Congo.

The agreement includes commitments to respect territorial integrity, cease hostilities, disengage and disarm non-state armed groups, establish a joint security coordination mechanism and facilitate the return of refugees, humanitarian access and regional economic cooperation.

The M23 rebels at the center of the conflict in eastern Congo have seized significant territory since December, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu in North and South Kivu, intensifying instability in a region long plagued by armed groups.

The Congolese government accuses neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels fighting in eastern Congo, a claim Kigali denies.

The UN reports that the conflict has displaced more than 7.8 million people.