Communiqué of the 1st meeting of the Guarantors of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region, Addis Ababa, 1 December 2014

1. The Guarantors of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Region (PSC Framework) held their first meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the Headquarters of the African Union (AU), on 1 December 2014, in order to review the recent developments in the region and take stock of the progress made in the implementation of the PSC Framework.

2. The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Saïd Djinnit, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) for the Great Lakes Region, and Ambassador Smaïl Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security. Also present were H.E. Georges Rebelo Chicoti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola, and Honorable Simbarashe S. Mumbengegwi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zimbabwe, in their capacity as representatives of the countries chairing the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), respectively; Honorable Mr. David Mahlobo, Minister of State Security of the Republic of South Africa, Current Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; as well as Ambassador Boubacar Gaoussou Diarra, AU Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, H.E. Professor Ntumba Luaba, Executive Secretary of the ICGLR, and H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Executive Secretary of SADC.

3. The Guarantors noted the volatility of the security situation in Eastern DRC, particularly in Beni and its surroundings, with the recent attacks perpetrated against civilians and gross violations of human rights, including women and children. The Guarantors expressed deep concern at the prevailing situation, and warned the armed groups against continuing their criminal activities.

They called on the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) and MONUSCO to take decisive actions in order to neutralise all the negative forces in the DRC, in accordance with the decisions taken by the regional leaders and the UN Security Council. The Guarantors urged all the partners to ensure that those who commit murder, rape and other human rights violations are prosecuted.

4. Recalling the imminent deadline of 2 January 2015 set by the Heads of State of the Region for the voluntary disarmament of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), the Guarantors expressed their deep concern over the slow pace in the disarmament process.

They noted the transfer, on 27 November 2014, of 157 combatants and families in the transit centre in Kisangani, and strongly urged the FDLR, particularly its leadership, to fully disarm within the agreed time limits. The Guarantors further stressed the binding and non-negotiable character of the

2 January 2015 deadline, and underlined the need to constantly remind the FDLR of the countdown in this regard. In this respect, they recalled that MONUSCO and the FARDC have been tasked to take the necessary action for the neutralization of the FDLR should they not comply with the agreed deadline, in line with the relevant provisions of resolutions 2098 (2013) and 2147 (2014), as well as the ICGLR Mini-Summit of 14 August 2014 and the SADC Summit of 17 and 18 August 2014.

5. In light of the above, the Guarantors requested the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) to consider the situation, with a view to taking the necessary action. The Guarantors reiterated their full support to the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General, and requested him to submit the conclusions of this meeting for the consideration of the Heads o