Leaders and envoys of 11 African nations signed the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes in Addis Ababa last weekend, making a series of commitments: the Congolese government pledged to continue security sector reform and increase the decentralization of economic development and social service delivery; countries in the region pledged not to interfere in Congo, support armed groups, or purposefully destabilize its neighbors; and the international community promised to support long-term stability in the region, appoint a United Nations Special Envoy, and strategically review the mandate of the U.N. Organization Stabilization Mission in Congo, or MONUSCO.
The framework agreement created both a regional and national oversight mechanism to monitor the implementation. The regional oversight mechanism, known as the 11+4 mechanism, includes the 11 African signatories, the U.N., the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, or ICGLR, and the Southern African Development Community, or SADC, and receives support from major donors. The national oversight mechanism is managed by President Kabila and the Congolese government.
The international community has expressed optimism over this peace deal, which was highly anticipated given the limited scope and the stagnation of negotiations in Kampala and the absence of a comprehensive peace process in the Congo since 2006. ...
[view whole blog post
]
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
See More
Report Abuse
