Nairobi, 7 October 2016 - The 14^th Technical Support Committee (TSC) meeting for the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework agreement for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region took place in Nairobi, Kenya, on 7 October 2016. The purpose of the meeting was threefold: first, to discuss preparations for the 7^thmeeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM) scheduled on 26 October in Luanda, Angola, which will be preceded by a meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of signatory countries to the Framework agreement; second, to review progress in the implementation of the national, regional and international commitments of the Framework agreement; and three, to exchange views on new developments in the region, notably in Burundi, the DRC, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan.

The TSC is an advisory mechanism, which reports to the heads of state of the 13 signatory countries of the PSC Framework agreement, including the DRC, Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The TSC meets regularly to make recommendations on advancing the implementation of the core objectives of the PSC Framework, including the neutralization of armed groups in eastern DRC; tackling the illegal exploitation of natural resources; addressing impunity and promoting judicial cooperation; finding durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs); supporting Women and Youth empowerment; and promoting regional integration, economic development and governance.

While acknowledging progress in the regional efforts to curtail the activities of illegal armed groups in eastern DRC, the TSC took note of the challenges in the overall implementation of the Framework agreement. In an overarching strategy to overcome these challenges, the TSC appealed to the leaders of the region and the international community to: redouble efforts in the implementation of the national, regional and international commitments under the PSC Framework agreement, and to work collaboratively for the neutralization of armed groups in the region; improve on the level of information sharing; and strengthen security mechanisms. Increased participation of women in peace processes was also emphasized.

Participants at the meeting included representatives from Angola, the Republic of Congo, the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia; as well as representatives of the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, the African Union (AU), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) known as the guarantors of the peace agreement.