Communique of the 393rd meeting of the PSC on the situation in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the eastern part of the DRC

COMMUNIQUE

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 393^rd meeting held on 28 August 2013, adopted the following decision on the situation in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):

Council,

1. Takes note of the briefing provided by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission for the Great Lakes Region. Council also takes note of the statements made by the representatives of the DRC, the Economic Community of the Central African States (ECCAS), Uganda, in its capacity as Chair of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the Executive Secretariat of the ICGLR, Malawi, in its capacity as Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as of those made by the representatives of the United Nations, the European Union (EU) and the following members of the UN Security CouncikFrance, Rwanda, United Kingdom and United States of America;

2. Recalls its previous communiques and press statements on thesecurity and humanitarian situationin the easternpart of the DRC;

3. Reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the AU's principles, in particular the respect for the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the DRC and that of all the other countries of the region, and its total rejection of recourse to armed rebellion to advance political demands;

4. Notes with deep concern the continuing deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the eastern part of the DRC, despite repeated calls to the parties to show restraint in order to facilitate the search for a lasting solution to the crisis;

5. Strongly condemns the resumption of hostilities by theM23, which have resulted innumerous civilian casualties and caused extensive damage in the occupied areas and in the city of Goma, including the repeated attacks against the Armed Forces of the DRC(FARDC), the peacekeepers of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Congo(MONUSCO) and the humanitarian workers. Council condemns the shelling on the territory of Rwanda. Council further condemns all negative forces, including the Mai^_Mai, the Democratic Liberation ForcesofRwanda(FDLR), the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU) and the AlliedDemocratic Forces (ADF), latest action of the latter having led to continuing massive internal displacements and flow of refugees;

6. Demands that the M23 immediately halt all military operations in order to facilitate the search for a lasting political solution to the crisis within the framework of the Kampala talks, and recalls, in this regard, the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council calling for the

disarmament and dismantlement of the armed groups. Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of a UN peacekeeper,presents its condolencesto the family of the victim and to the Tanzanian Government, as well as to MONUSCO, and wishes speedy recovery to the wounded UN peacekeepers;

7. Reaffirms the need to resolutely combat impunity and stresses, in this regard, that the M23,as well as the other armed groups and negative forces, shall be held accountable for the abuses and other crimes committedin the areas under their control;

8. Welcomes the progress made in the deployment and operationalization of the MONUSCO Intervention Brigade, as authorized byUN Security Council resolution 2098 (2013). Council reiterates its appreciation to South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania for their contribution to the establishment of the Brigade, as well as its support to the Brigade, and stresses the need for the effective implementation of its mandate. Council underscores the importance of the Expanded Joint verification Mechanism (EJVM) in dispelling accusations and counter-accusations and, in this regard, notes with satisfaction the steps already taken by the AU and the EU to provide support to the EJVM to enable it effectively fulfill its mandated tasks. Council calls for increased support to the EJVM, especially in terms of human and financial resources;

9. Stresses the need for sustained efforts to find a lasting solution to the recurring instability in eastern DRC. In this context, Council commends the untiring efforts of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda, in his capacity as Chair of the ICGLR, including in facilitating the Kampala negotiations between the Government of the DRC and the M23, and calls for their urgent conclusion, in strict compliance with the Congolese Constitution and laws. Council requests the Commission to urgently undertake consultations with the Ugandan authorities to determine the modalities of an appropriate contribution to this process, and to report to it on the steps taken;

10. Welcomes the progress made by the DRC in the implementation of the security and defense sector reform, as well as with respect to decentralization. Council notes with satisfaction the forthcoming national dialogue aimed at strengthening national cohesion;

11. Welcomes the continued efforts ofH.E. President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo to foster mutual understanding and confidence among the leaders of the region, and encourages him to pursue and intensify his efforts;

12. Recalls that the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region offers an appropriate basis for the promotion of lasting peace in eastern DRC and in the region. Council calls on all parties to the Framework to ensure its implementation and scrupulously comply with their commitments, including by refraining from providing support to the negative forces. Council appeals to the international partners to continue to provide support for the full implementation of the commitments made by the parties to the Framework;

MAKE

13. Urges the countries of the region to intensify their efforts in addressing the current problems and consolidate the progress made in recent years, in a spirit of cooperation and on the basis of the relevant principles enshrined in the AU Constitutive Act, the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes region, and the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region;

14. Takes note of the outcomes of the meetings of the Technical Support Committee of the Regional Follow-up Mechanism of the Framework, held in Nairobi on 24 June and on 22 and 23 July 2013, to develop criteria for monitoring and benchmarks of progress in the implementation of the Framework. Council looks forward to the next meeting of the Regional Follow-up Mechanism 11+4, to be held in New York, in the margins of the forthcoming UN General Assembly;

15. Welcomes the Declaration adopted by the 6^th Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the ICGLR, held in Nairobi, on 31 July 2013, on the security situation in the Eastern DRC, and calls for its full implementation. Council also welcomes the conclusions of the 2^nd tripartite Summit Angola, RDC and South Africa,held in Luanda, on 23 August 2013, and takes noteof the willingness of the Government of the Republic of Angola to host a joint SADC/ICGLR Summit to review the situation in eastern DRC;

16. Stresses the crucial importance of effective and speedy implementation of projects and action programs of the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes region, as well as of the regional projects for development and integration of the Economic Community of Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL), in laying the foundations for lasting peace and stability in the region. Council welcomes the meeting held in Addis Ababa, from 19 to 20 July 2013, under the auspices of the AU, the UN and the World Bank, to discuss development frameworks for the countries of the region, in order to support the implementation of the Framework, and requests that the implementation of the recommendations made during that meeting be expedited;

17. Encourages the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission to pursue his efforts in support to the countries of the region, including through continued consultations with the various stakeholders. Council also encourages continued consultations among all concerned international stakeholders and, in this respect, welcomes the planned joint AU-EU-UN-US mission to the countries of the Great Lakes region, to review the situation and identify practical steps for enhanced international coordination and support to the regional efforts;

18. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.