Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1222nd meeting held on 15 July 2024 on the Role of Mediation and Reconciliation in Conflict Resolution in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC);

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling its previous decisions and pronouncements on the Mediation and Reconciliation in Conflict Resolution in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly Communiqués [PSC/HoSG/COMM.1140 (2023)] adopted at its 1140th meeting held at the level of Heads of State and Government, on 17 February 2023 and [PSC/PR/COMM.1203 (2024)] adopted at its 1203rd meeting held on 4 March 2024;

Reaffirming the solidarity of the AU with the people and the Government of the DRC in their aspirations for durable peace, security and sustainable development, as well as the continued commitment of the AU to respect the sovereignty, independency, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC;

Also reaffirming the AU principles as stipulated in Article 4 of the Constitutive Act, in particular, the principles of non-interference by any Member State in the internal affairs of another; peaceful co-existence of Member States and their right to live in peace and security, as well as good neighbourliness;

Noting the introductory remarks and the briefing on the Luanda Process by H.E. Ambassador Téte António, Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Angola and PSC Chairperson for July 2024, and the briefing by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; also noting the Statements by H.E. Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Francophonie of the DRC; H.E. Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda;

Further Noting the Statements by H.E. Mulambo Haimbe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Zambia as the Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation and by H.E. Jean-Pierre François Renaud Lacroix, UN Under-SecretaryGeneral for Peace Operations; and

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:

1. Expresses grave concern over the increasing intensity of M23 attacks, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which have worsened the security insecurity and the suffering of civilian in the eastern DRC; and demands these groups to immediately and unconditionally cease their attacks and reiterates the call for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all armed groups, from the eastern DRC, in line with the Communique? of the Mini-Summit of Luanda of 23 November 2022;

2. Also Expresses deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the North and South Kivu provinces caused by the intensification of fighting by M23, attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces against civilians, as well as the persistent activism of other negative forces and armed groups active in eastern DRC; in this regard strongly condemns the heinous activities of all non-state armed groups and negative forces; and strongly warns them that they will be held accountable for their actions;

3. Reaffirms that the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement for the DRC and the Region remains a viable instrument to support the DRC and institutions in the region to achieve peace and stability, and emphasizes that signatory countries individually and collectively need to redouble their efforts to fully implement the national and regional commitments enshrined in the Framework Agreement;

4. Reiterates that the Luanda Process and the Nairobi Process remain the viable frameworks for reconciliation between the DRC and Rwanda to facilitate the resolution of the crisis in eastern DRC and the region; and in this regard, calls for the strengthening and escalation of the political process to involve all key stakeholders; and stresses the need for alignment and harmonization of initiatives aimed at resolving the strategic problems of the DRC and the Region, in accordance with the Declaration of the Quadripartite Summit between the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and SADC, under the Coordination of the African Union (AU), that was held in Luanda, Angola, on 27 June 2023; in this regard requests the AU Commission to consult and convene the second quadripartite meeting to ensure harmonization of all efforts in eastern DRC;

5. Commends the efforts by His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Champion of the African Union for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa, for his pivotal role in the mediation of the conflict in the Eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo through the Luanda Process, and H.E former President Uhuru Kenyatta for his leadership under the Nairobi Process and directs the AU Commission to provide technical support to the Luanda and Nairobi processes;

6. Urges the Governments of the DRC and the Republic of Rwanda, to continue to cooperate including in holding direct talks, in order to find a peaceful resolution of the conflict, under the mediation of His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and AU Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa;

7. Undescores the need to address the underlying root causes and structural drivers associated with youth participation in violence, including through supporting socio-economic empowerment programs aimed at economically empowering the population especially the women and youth, in order to re-orient them away from the politics of identity to the politics of interests; in this regard, directs the AU commission to actively engage the AU PCRD Center in order to develop programs tailored towards building the capacities of state institutions of the DRC and other countries in the Great Lakes Region;

8. Requests the AU Commission, working in close collaboration with the Mediator of the Luanda Process and the Facilitator of the Nairobi Process, to rollout practical modalities for enhanced coordination and harmonization, involving the Panel of the Wise and Femwise as subsidiary and complementary efforts, with the support of the AU Mediation and Dialogue Division, and to submit regular progress reports on both processes to the Council;

9. Calls upon all stakeholders in the DRC to embrace and promote dialogue and reconciliation as a way of putting an end to violence and, in so doing, ensure the participation of women, youth, as well as religious and traditional leaders in the process;

10. Emphasizes the need to effectively implement disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) initiatives within the framework of the Luanda Process;

11. Expresses concern over the humanitarian situation in the eastern DRC; and requests the Member States, and international community, which are in a position to do so, to contribute to the provision of humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the affected populations; and underscores the need to create humanitarian corridors to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid;

12. Reiterates its call for the strengthening of the capacity of the AU Liaison Office for the Great Lakes Region to ensure that it more effectively supports the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism and the Contact and Coordination Group on non-military measures as well as other related regional processes;

13. Welcomes the convening of the Retreat of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the East African Community held from 6 to 7 July 2024, in Zanzibar, Tanzania, including its recommendations, and to this end, calls for the re-invigoration of the Nairobi Process;

14. Further Requests the AU Commission to accelerate the implementation of the recommendations in the Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1203 (2024)] of 4 March 2024 to enable the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) to complete its deployment;

15. Pays tribute to SAMIDRC Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs), namely South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania, for their commitment to promoting peace, security and stability in the region; Commends the EAC Regional Forces (RF) for its contribution to peacemaking efforts in eastern DRC; also pays tribute to the United Nations Organizations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), EACRF, SAMIRDC and armed forces of the DRC (FARDC) forces who paid the ultimate price; and expresses sincere condolences to the bereaved families and governments and wishes speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries; and

16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS