Luanda - The minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, expressed concerns on Wednesday (16) about the deterioration of the security situation in some countries in the Great Lakes Region, representing a setback in collective efforts for peace in Africa.
A press release from MIREX (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) reports that the minister expressed such concern during a meeting of the UN Security Council to analyze the latest developments in the situation in that geographical area.
The meeting happened by videoconference and Téte António highlighted the initiatives taken by regional leaders, through high-level political engagements with the aim of restoring confidence, promoting peace and stability in that region.
Regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Chairman of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU), Téte António, expressed deep concern about the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the east of that country.
"The occupation of cities such as Goma and Bukavu by the M23 and the consequent advance of its forces into new territories, in addition to escalating the conflict, threaten the DRC's territorial integrity, worsens the populations' humanitarian situation and contributes significantly to undermining the diplomatic efforts undertaken within the framework of the existing mediation processes", he pointed out.
On the other hand, he welcomed the efforts made to achieve regional peace and stability, in particular the coordination of joint actions at the level of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC), in the search for peace in the east of the DRC and other international players.
In this regard, he referred to the "Joint SADC/EAC Summit", held on Feb 8, 2025, in Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania, which, in addition to the call for a ceasefire, reiterated the need to resume direct negotiations and dialogue with all state and non-state actors, including the M23 group.
The diplomat informed the UN Security Council about the "Meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council", at the level of Heads of State and Govt, on Feb 14 of the current, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which urged the parties to build on the progress made under the Luanda Process.
Téte António highlighted the several advances made, in particular, the consensus reached between the DRC and Rwanda regarding the neutralization of the FDLR, the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory, through the elaboration of the Concept of Operations (CONOPs) document.
He mentioned Angola's withdrawal from mediation in the DRC conflict and the AU's appointment of Faure Gnassimbé, President of Togo, to continue the diplomatic efforts aimed to resolve the political crisis.
Regarding the Central African Republic (CAR), Téte António acknowledged the significant progress towards stabilising the country, following the implementation of the Joint Roadmap for Peace, adopted at the III Mini-Summit of Heads of State and Govt of the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), held in Luanda, Angola, on Sept 16 2021.
Regarding South Sudan, he recommended the need for greater attention, as recent events jeopardise the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement for the Revitalisation of Peace.
He reaffirmed the intention, given the impact of conflicts in Africa, of the Angolan presidency of the African Union to hold a Conference on Conflicts in Africa, capable of contributing to motivating solutions to the multifaceted scenarios facing the continent.
VIC/CF/jmc
