The guarantors of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region have called for the convening of the second AU Quadripartite Summit in the first quarter of the year following clashes in eastern DRC.
Following a virtual meeting on January 10 to discuss the recent clashes and next steps of the revitalization process of the PSC Framework, the representatives of the Guarantor Institutions also called for urgent convening of the 12th Summit of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the PSC to discuss the escalation of fighting in the region. The guarantors are the AU, the UN, ICGLR and SADC.
The meeting was attended by UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region Huang Xia, High Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson for the Great Lakes region and Head of Liaison Bureau in Burundi Sghair Mbarek, ICGLR Executive Secretary Amb. João Samuel Caholo, and Prof. Kula I. Theletsane, Director of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Affairs, representing SADC Executive Secretary Elias Mpedi Magosi.
“The representatives of the Guarantor Institutions express their deep concern at the continuous deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC, marked by the resumption of clashes between M23 combatants and FARDC troops in the province of North Kivu in violation of the ceasefire agreed on 31 July 2024 in the framework of the Luanda process,” a statement released by the office of the UN Special Envoy said in part.
The inaugural AU Quadripartite Summit was held in Luanda, Angola, in June 2023, seeking to coordinate and harmonize peace initiatives in the eastern DRC comprising the EAC, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), ICGLR, and SADC, DRC and Rwanda, with the participation of the United Nations.
The Summit called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all armed groups, in particular the M23, ADF and FDLR, while noting the non-compliance of the M23 to withdraw from the occupied territories as outlined in the Luanda Roadmap of 23 November 2022.
At the time, the Summit also adopted the “Joint Framework on Coordination and Harmonization of Peace Initiatives in Eastern DRC by the EAC, ECCAS, ICGLR, SADC and the UN under the auspices of the AU”. Move sought to promote coherence of the existing peace initiatives of the Quadripartite in line with the relevant instruments and decisions with a clear division of responsibilities and agreed timelines, the communique said.
Following the inaugural meeting, the Quadripartite Summit was institutionalised as a platform for coordination, harmonization and high-level consultations on the situation in Eastern DRC; and Burundi offered to host the second Quadripartite Summit in Bujumbura.
VIOLENCE CONDEMNED
The guarantors also strongly condemned the new escalation of violence and urged concerned parties to exercise restraint and to protect civilian populations while fostering dialogue under the Luanda and the Nairobi peace processes.
“They also call for the implementation of the provisions contained in the Concept of Operations of the harmonized plan for the neutralization of the FDLR and the disengagement of forces/lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures, as agreed in Luanda, as well as for continued dialogue between the concerned parties to resolve outstanding issues,” the statement added.
The representatives also reiterated the importance of respecting the national and regional commitments made by the signatory States under the Addis Ababa PSC Framework and the ICGLR Pact on Security, Stability and Development, including the respect of the territorial integrity of States and an end to all forms of support to armed groups.
This came three days after the UN Special Envoy called for an urgent meeting of Heads of States from the region to help end the crisis in eastern DRC.
Expressing concern at the “rapidly deteriorating” security situation in the region, envoy Huang in a statement on January 7 called for the urgent convening of the 12th High-Level Meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the PSC Framework to also examine the draft Action Plan for the revitalisation of the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement.
There have been renewed clashes between the coalition of Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and the March 23 Movement (M23), following which rebels on Saturday seized control of Masisi, a key town in the mineral-rich DRC.
The fighting has displaced more than 100,000 people over the last week, according to the United Nations humanitarian affairs office on Tuesday.
“Between 1 and 3 January 2025, intense clashes between the Congolese army and a non-state armed group in Masisi Centre, North Kivu province, displaced an estimated 102,000 people, according to local reports,” the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.
