Briefing by Bintou Keita, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bintou Keita, said “peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still mostly a promise,” and “will not last if the underlying drivers of conflict are not addressed.”
Presenting the Secretary-General’s latest report, Keita told the Security Council in New York that “there are discrepancies between the progress we see on paper and the reality we observe on the ground which continues to be marred with violence.”
She stated that the key provisions of Security Council resolution 2773 “remain largely unimplemented,” and despite the Council’s requests, the AFC/M23 armed group has “continued to pursue a logic of territorial expansion and consolidation.”
This and other issues, Keita said, underscore “the persisting gap between the decisions of this Council and the realities on the ground.”
She called upon the Council “to bring about a permanent ceasefire and a durable peace agreement that will establish stability in eastern DRC,” adding that “only then, will commitments be translated into meaningful progress for the people.”
Keita stressed that “illegal mining, looting of natural resources and illicit financial flows continue to fuel violence,” and said, “these activities must be stopped.”
In a rapidly changing environment, they need to adapt and stay competitive to keep providing funding to people and businesses.
But so does ECB Banking Supervision. What are we doing to become more efficient, effective and risk-focused? And how are we simplifying supervision while safeguarding resilience? Our host Stefania Secola speaks to Supervisory Board member Sharon Donnery to find out.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.
Published on 1 October 2025 and recorded on 24 September 2025.
In this episode:
01:10 How are Europe’s banks doing?
What is going well? What about the challenges banks face, like those coming from geopolitical tensions, digitalisation and the climate crisis? And are we seeing signs of deterioration in banks’ asset quality?
04:12 Are the current rules too complex?
Are Europe’s banks over-regulated? Why does a complex business like banking need sufficiently developed rules? And is there room to make things simpler for both supervisors and banks?
05:34 Does simplification mean deregulation?
How do they differ from one another? And how will we put guardrails in place to safeguard the resilience we have worked so hard to build in the banking sector?
08:33 How are we simplifying how we supervise banks?
What concrete steps have we taken? How will these change our regular health check for banks and the way we conduct stress tests?
11:22 Who is involved in simplifying supervision?
How do we make sure that the right people are involved? And how are banks, banking federations, academics and others involved in the work that’s being done?
13:04 What does simplification mean for banks, supervisors and customers?
More efficiency, shorter timelines and better use of limited resources? And how can banking union give customers more options when it comes to products and services?
15:53 What about simplifying regulation?
Beyond how we supervise banks, what steps are being taken to simplify the rules? What is being done at the European level, and how is our work on supervision feeding into that?
18:22 Our guest’s hot tip
Sharon shares her hot tip with our listeners.
Further reading:
As simple as possible, but not simpler
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/press/blog/2025/html/ssm.blog20250908~a8fbf2c8ec.en.html
Sharon’s hot tip: Making European supervision more efficient, effective and risk-focused
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/framework/approach/html/simplification.en.html
Joint statement delivered by Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba, Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations, on behalf of Panama, the United States, Guyana, Haiti, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Kenya and other Member States, on the question concerning Haiti.
Comments to the media by Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), on the situation in the country (EN/FR).
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
Michelle Amato discusses the disappearance 47 years ago of her brother Andrew Amato. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for his disappearance.
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Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks discusses the Richard Amato missing person case. Amato disappeared 47 years ago. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for his disappearance.
—————————————————
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Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
Andrew J. Amato was last seen in 1978. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for his disappearance.
—————————————————
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Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
UNGA 80 Wrap-Up Statistics
Briefings Tomorrow
Gaza Statement
Occupied Palestinian Territory
UNIFIL
High-Level Conference on the Situation of Human Rights of Rohingya and Other Minorities in Myanmar
Ecuador
Afghanistan
Security Council
Sudan
Central African Republic
Mozambique
Translation Day
Financial Contribution
UNGA 80 WRAP-UP STATISTICS
The Deputy Spokesman provided an update on the UN General Assembly 80 General Debate speakers:
This session, there was a total of:
189 Member States with a break-down of:
83 Heads of State;
7 Vice-Presidents or Crown Princes;
41 Heads of Government;
4 Deputy Prime Ministers;
45 Ministers;
1 Vice-Minister; and
8 Chairs of Delegation.
As well as 3 observers.
And, in terms of the Secretary-General’s readouts, there have been 146 of them and they have all been shared.
BRIEFINGS TOMORROW
Tomorrow, at 11:30 a.m., there will be a briefing here by Annalena Baerbock, the President of the General Assembly.
Then, at 12:45 p.m., there will be a press briefing here by Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of October.
He will brief on the programme of work for October.
GAZA STATEMENT
Earlier today, we issued the following statement:
The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement yesterday by US President Trump, intended to achieve a ceasefire and sustainable peace for Gaza and for the region. He further appreciates the important role of Arab and Muslim states in working to this end. It is now crucial that all parties commit to an agreement and its implementation.
The Secretary-General reiterates that our priority must be to ease the tremendous suffering caused by this conflict. He once again reiterates his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian access across Gaza and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and he hopes that this will create the conditions allowing for the realization of the two-state solution.
The United Nations remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting all efforts that promote peace, stability, and a more hopeful future for the people of Palestine and Israel and across the region.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Meanwhile, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, said that President Trump’s plan opens new possibilities for humanitarians to deliver life-saving aid at the scale desperately needed by civilians, as well as for hostages finally coming home. Mr. Fletcher stressed that we are ready and eager to work – in a practical and principled way – to seize this moment for peace.
Our teams, networks, supplies and expertise are in place and ready to be mobilized quickly and efficiently, as we did during the previous ceasefire.
As we’ve consistently emphasized, it is essential to end all attacks, restore public order, and facilitate humanitarian access to and throughout Gaza.
Eliminating restrictions on the entry of critical items and the work of international NGOs remains a key requirement.
These game-changing steps will allow us to resume community-based services at a level that ensures no one is left behind.
It will be critical that the private sector will be empowered to operate at a meaningful scale, noting that humanitarian aid alone cannot meet the full scope of needs in Gaza.
Looking ahead, it will be crucial to ensure that these conditions are sustained, along with generous and reliable funding, and the restoration of decimated facilities and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that areas across the Strip – especially Gaza City – continue to come under heavy Israeli bombardment. The UN Human Rights Office said that Israeli strikes intensified on the northwestern part of Deir al Balah between 24 and 28 September, with at least 89 Palestinians reportedly killed in at least a dozen separate incidents.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=30%20September%202025
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