Addis Ababa, 23 October 2013: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has concluded a three-day official visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), from 20 to 23 October 2013.

During the visit, the Chairperson of the Commission met with President Joseph Kabila, the Prime Minister and a number of Ministers, as well as with the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the National Assembly. She also met with civil society representatives and women’s organizations representatives, and religious leaders. Furthermore, she met with the African Ambassadors and representatives of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

The Chairperson of the Commission expressed appreciation for the DRC commitment to the Framework for Peace, Security and Cooperation for the DRC and the region, signed in Addis Ababa in February 2013, which provides a viable basis for the promotion of peace, stability and development for the DRC and the Great Lakes Region as a whole. She welcomed the continued cooperation of the DRC with the Facilitator of the Kampala Dialogue, and urged all the parties to demonstrate flexibility and diligence, so that the talks can resume and conclude positively in the shortest possible time.

The Chairperson of the Commission stressed that the DRC needs peace for sustainable development, and was pleased with the efforts of the DRC Government in the areas of education, infrastructural development and the general welfare of the population. She urged the authorities to persevere in these efforts, while dealing with the restoration of peace and security, particularly in the eastern part of the country.

The Chairperson of the Commission expressed disgust at the violence perpetrated against innocent civilians, in particular women and children. She reiterated the AU’s commitment to continue to work with the UN to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Addis Ababa Framework and the restoration of peace and security in the DRC.

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