UN envoy calls for concerted efforts to avoid rolling-back of gains in Africa's Great Lakes

The United Nations envoy for the Great Lakes region today highlighted the challenges posed by armed groups which continue to threaten the region's stability and called for concerted efforts to avert any reversal of the commendable gains it has achieved thus far.

Briefing the Security Council on the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – also known as the Framework Agreement – the UN Special Envoy for Great Lakes Region, Said Djinnit further highlighted efforts to address these challenges, including through joint operations by the DRC's armed forces and the UN stabilization mission in the country (MONUSCO).

He also noted the regional consultations, initiated by the guarantor institutions of the Framework Agreement, in support of the efforts to neutralize Forces démocratique de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and added that work has been undertaken to establish a follow-up mechanism to counter the threat posed by ADF.

The Special Envoy also informed the Council of the high-level meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism, held in Luanda, Angola, on 26 October which reviewed and endorsed the progress report on the implementation of the commitments under the Framework Agreement.

Further in his briefing, Mr. Djinnit also highlighted the progress made in the region, particularly in strengthening judicial cooperation and in investigating and prosecuting violations of human rights, including sexual and gender-based violence, as well as support for women, youth and civil society.

Concluding this briefing, the Special Envoy called on all stakeholders, including those who had rejected the recent round of talks and the resonant agreement, to continue to work and to undertake additional confidence-building measures for the benefit of the region.