Communiqué of the 2nd Meeting of the Guarantors of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Region

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, 13 JUNE 2015

1. The Guarantors of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Region held their 2nd meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 13 June 2015, on the margins of the Ordinary Sessions of the African Union (AU) Policy Organs.

2. The meeting was co-chaired by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Smaïl Chergui, and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) for the Great Lakes Region, Saïd Djinnit. Also present were: Mr. Manuel Augusto, Secretary of State for External Relations of the Republic of Angola, Chair of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR); Mr. Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC); Mr. David Mahlobo, Minister of State Security of the Republic of South Africa, Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation; Professor Ntumba Luaba, Executive Secretary of the ICGLR, and a representative of Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, SADC Executive Secretary.

3. The Guarantors noted the slow progress in the implementation of the commitments of the PSC Framework and stressed the urgent need for renewed efforts by all parties, to address the challenges at hand including through improved participation and ownership by Member States, to monitor the implementation process. In this regard, they requested the AU Commission and the Office of the UN Special Envoy, in collaboration with the Technical Support Committee (TSC), to present options for the revitalization of the implementation process of the PSC Framework, including the strengthening of its governance structures. The Guarantors agreed to organize a retreat of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of signatory Member States in early July 2015 in South Africa, in order to facilitate the elaboration of consolidated and consensual proposals on the way forward for submission to the 6th meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM), scheduled to take place on the margins of the UN General Assembly, in New York, in September 2015.

4. The Guarantors expressed concern at the continued presence of armed groups in eastern DRC. While welcoming the efforts being made by the DRC Government, they encouraged the latter and the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to resume military collaboration for the neutralization of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

5. Regarding the implementation of the Nairobi Declarations of December 2013 that concluded the Kampala Dialogue between the DRC Government and the M23, the Guarantors welcomed the call by the ICGLR for the speedy repatriation of ex-combatants, as well as the recommendation for the establishment of a mechanism involving the DRC, Uganda, Rwanda, UN, AU, SADC and ICGLR to expedite this process. They requested the ICGLR Secretariat to provide a report on the work of the mechanism at the 6th meeting of the ROM.

6. The Guarantors commended the initiatives taken by the East African Community (EAC), as well as by the ICGLR, with the support of the AU and the UN, to find lasting solutions to the peace and security challenges facing Burundi. They also commended the efforts of the UN Special Envoy. They look forward to renewed regional and international efforts to address the challenges at hand and find a consensual political solution to the crisis.

7. The Guarantors expressed deep concern at the dire humanitarian situation prevailing in the region, particularly in Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), eastern DRC, Sudan and South Sudan, as a result of political crises and conflicts. They called for enhanced humanitarian support to the affected populations.

8. The Guarantors welcomed the high-level seminar on the implementation of the DRC national commitments under the PSC Framework, organized by the Government of the DRC in Kinshasa, from 3 to 4 June 2015. They expressed the hope that this initiative would be sustained as a regular forum to facilitate the timely and effective implementation of the DRC Government commitments.

9. The Guarantors further welcomed the selection of the DRC as the host country of the Private Sector Investment Conference from 24 to 25 February 2016. They agreed to effectively contribute to the deliberations of the Steering Committee to be established for this Conference.

10. The Guarantors thanked the UN and AU for their initiative, as co-chairs, to convene the second meeting in Johannesburg and agreed to meet quarterly.
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