Kinshasa, 29 April 2016 – A group of senior representatives from the United Nations Organization (UN), the African Union (AU), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) known as the Guarantors of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSCF) agreement, concluded on 29 April 2016 a five-day visit to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). The four officials urged Government authorities from these countries to promote vigorous efforts against armed groups in eastern DRC and to encourage the repatriation of ex-M23 combatants. "The region will not be at peace with itself and focus on socio-economic progress if the plague of negative forces and other root causes of conflicts in the region remain unaddressed," said Saïd Djinnit, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa and leader of the delegation.

The delegation took note of the concerns expressed by the Governments of Rwanda and Uganda on the need to fast-track the neutralization of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The delegation assured Rwanda and Uganda of the UN resolve, through its peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, to make full use of its Force Intervention Brigade in support of military operations conducted by the Congolese Armed Forces. The ICGLR also expressed its total commitment to support ongoing efforts towards stability in the region, notably through its regional security mechanism known as the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM).

The objectives of these regional consultations were to consult relevant stakeholders on the status of the implementation of the Nairobi Declarations signed by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the ex-M23 rebel movement; to discuss the repatriation of the ex-M23 members currently in Uganda and Rwanda; and to make recommendations for fast tracking the implementation process. The high level delegation also shared concerns on the continued activities
of armed groups, notably FDLR and ADF in eastern DRC and in the region, including the recent attacks by suspected FDLR combatants in Rwanda.

It will be recalled that at their meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 31 January 2016, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the PSCF signatory countries requested the Guarantors to hold consultations with relevant stakeholders in the region to overcome obstacles in the implementation of the Nairobi Declarations signed on 12 December 2013 by the DRC Government and the ex-M23 rebel movement.

The visit comprised the UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, Said Djinnit; the Executive Secretary of the ICGLR, Ntumba Luaba; the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), David Gressly; the Director of SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, Jorge Cardoso; the Deputy Director for International Relations and Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Mozambique, representing the SADC Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation; and Altiné Traoré representing Ibrahima Fall, Special Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson for the Great Lakes region and Head of the AU Liaison Office in Burundi.