Africa-Press – Angola. The deterioration of the security situation in some countries in the Great Lakes Region represents a setback in collective efforts for peace in Africa. The concern, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was expressed by the head of Angolan diplomacy and president of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU), Téte António, during a meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council to analyze the latest developments in the situation in that geographical area.
In a speech made on Wednesday, via videoconference, 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 area.
Regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the head of Angolan diplomacy expressed deep concern about the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the east of the neighboring 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, threatens the territorial integrity of the DRC, worsens the humanitarian situation of the populations and contributes significantly to undermining the diplomatic efforts undertaken within the framework of the existing mediation processes”, he said.
Teté António welcomed, however, the efforts made to achieve peace and regional stability, in particular the coordination of joint actions at the level of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the East African Community (EAC) and other international actors in the search for peace in the East of the DRC.
In this sense, he referred to the “Joint SADC/CAO Summit”, held on 8 February 2025, in Dar-es-Salaam, 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 Government, on 14 February this year, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which urged the parties to the conflict to take advantage of the progress made under the Luanda Process.
The numerous advances made under the same Process, he said, including the consensus reached between the DRC and Rwanda regarding the neutralisation of the FDLR, the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory, through the elaboration of the Concept of Operations (CONOP).
The withdrawal of Angola from mediation in the conflict in the DRC and the designation by the African Union of Fauré Gnassingbé, President of Togo, as mediator, revealed the minister, aim to continue diplomatic efforts to resolve the political crisis.
Central African RepublicRegarding 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 Government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), held in Luanda, Angola, on 16 September 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, reaffirming Angola’s intention to continue to pay close attention to the impact of conflicts in Africa during its presidency of the African Union, highlighting the holding of a Conference on Conflicts in Africa capable of contributing to motivating solutions to the multifaceted scenarios facing the continent.
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