Luanda - Angola and the United Nations discussed Thursday in New York the situation in the Great Lakes Region, particularly in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the country’s permanent mission in New York said in a statement.
The situation was assessed by Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Francisco da Cruz, and the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for the Great Lakes Region, Huang Xia.
The two diplomats discussed the need for coordination and to complement regional and international initiatives for peace in the Great Lakes Region, through a comprehensive analysis of the future engagement of all the relevant parties in the process to secure regional stability, in view of the coming electoral period in the DRC.
The special envoy briefed the Angolan ambassador on the latest developments in the east of the DRC and the UN's efforts to find a lasting solution to the conflict in the Great Lakes Region, the statement said.
Ambassador Francisco da Cruz, on his turn, reiterated Angola’s willingness to continue working actively at the level of the region and the United Nations to ensure that the efforts made so far, particularly the Luanda Process lead to peace in the region.
Early on Tuesday, Huang Xia took part in the meeting of the Security Council that discussed the situation in the Great Lakes Region, having appealed to the international community for greater support in resolving the escalation of hostilities in the east of the DRC and the growing tension in the wider area of the Great Lakes region.
The UN special envoy expressed deep concern about the worsening security situation between the DRC and Rwanda, which have accuse each other of supporting armed groups within both country’s territory.
Huang Xia urged the international community to provide greater humanitarian assistance and facilitate the return of displaced people to their homes, underlining the importance of children's education as essential for the future of the region.
In his address, Huang Xia said he has visited several countries, including Angola, Burundi, the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda, as part of his efforts to promote peace in the region, with the aim of building trust and mobilizing partners for a peaceful solution to the challenges of the region.
The UN official underlined the importance of revitalising the 2013 Addis Ababa Framework Agreement, which lays the foundations for peace and security in the region.
He stressed the need to prioritize diplomacy and continuous dialogue for a comprehensive solution to the challenges facing the Great Lakes Region, stating that military solutions alone would not be enough to establish lasting peace.
Huang Xia called on all armed groups to lay down their arms and urged Congolese armed groups to participate in the disarmament and demobilization programme adopted by the DRC in 2022. FMA/ADR/AMP
