Special Envoy Said Djinnit attends OECD 12th forum, briefs OIF Secretary-General on the political situation in the Great Lakes region

12th OECD forum, Paris, 17-19 April 2018 (Photo Hervé Cortinat)

23 Apr 2018

Special Envoy Said Djinnit attends OECD 12th forum, briefs OIF Secretary-General on the political situation in the Great Lakes region

Paris, 20 April 2018 – The United Nations Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, Said Djinnit, attended the 12thForum of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains organised jointly with the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The meeting took place in Paris, France, from 17-19 April 2018.
 
In his opening remarks, Special Envoy Djinnit highlighted the negative impact of the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources in the DRC on the stability of the entire Great Lakes region.
 
He welcomed the ICGLR led-efforts, supported by the OECD and the donor community, to help the countries of the region tackle the illegal trade of natural resources in the DRC and the region through a strict application of international and regional standardin the industry, especially on gold. As a concrete step in this direction, Mr. Djinnit agreed that his Office would join hands with the OECD and the ICGLR to support the countries of the region in strengthening governance of the exploration and trade of natural resources.
 
On the sidelines of the OECD forum, Mr. Djinnit also met with the Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), Ms. Michaëlle Jean, to discuss the situation in the Great Lakes region andways to enhance cooperation between the OIF and the United Nations, particularly with regards to the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi. They agreed on the need for concerted regional and international engagement in support of the dialogue and electoral processes in both countries. The UN Special Envoy and the OIF Secretary-General agreed to consult regularly, and to work together to advance the peace and security agenda in the Great Lakes region.