President Jacob Zuma will undertake a working visit to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, to attend the signing ceremony of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Region, which is scheduled to take place on 24 February 2013 at the African Union (AU) Headquarters.
The eleven signatories to the Framework will include the Presidents and representatives of Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the DRC, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the AU Commission will sign as Witnesses and Guarantors, along with the Chairpersons of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The Chair of the AU and the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia are also expected to attend the ceremony.
It would be recalled that over the last few years, the AU, the UN and other international partners have been actively involved in efforts to promote peace, security, stability and development in the DRC and the Great Lakes Region. While commendable progress has been made, a number of challenges remain. The situation highlights the need for renewed efforts by all concerned within the region, with the support of the international community, building on the initiatives of the ICGRL and SADC.
It is against this background that the AU and the UN joined hands to facilitate the signing by the countries of the region of a Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region, building on their long history of partnership in the Great Lakes Region.
The AU and the UN spearheaded the process that led to the signing of the December 2006 Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region. Thus, the proposed Framework articulates a set of commitments at the level of the DRC, the Region and the international community. It also includes an oversight mechanism to facilitate follow-up and implementation of the commitments made.
President Zuma will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
Enquiries:
Mac Maharaj
Cell: 079 879 3203
E-mail: macmaharaj@mweb.co.zamacmaharaj@mweb.co.za
