Security Council Committee concerning Democratic Republic of the Congo Meets with Regional States, Special Envoy for Great Lakes Region, Head of Mission

On 20 March 2017, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo met with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region and the Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo in pursuance of resolution 2293 (2016).

During the meeting, the Committee heard briefings from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, respectively, on peace and security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the cooperation of regional States within the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region.  Regional States provided national statements on, inter alia, the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, implementation of the PSC Framework and regional cooperation efforts.  They reiterated their commitment to fully respecting the PSC Framework and called on other States of the region to equally fully respect all engagements, including not supporting armed groups, operating in other regional States’ territories, in any manner.  States highlighted the importance of continuing to work on natural-resource-related matters and to pay significant attention to discussions related to stopping the illicit exploitation of natural resources.

Committee members welcomed the briefings and statements.  They also welcomed the opportunity for further collaboration and called on all States to respect the PSC Framework, including by combating armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Members of the Committee further encouraged the invited States to inform the Committee of ways to improve collaboration on the relevant matters concerning peace and security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.