Joint statement by the Great Lakes Envoys on the M23 situation

Mary Robinson, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to the Great Lakes Region, Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Head of MONUSCO, Boubacar Diarra, AU Special Representative for the Great Lakes, Russell Feingold, U.S. Special Envoy for the Great Lakes and the DRC, and Koen Vervaeke, EU Senior Coordinator to the Great Lakes Region, are concerned about the renewed outbreak of violence between the M23 and the Government of the DRC. They take note of the announcement of the M23 of cessation of hostilities as a first and necessary step to peace.

The Special Envoys urge the M23 to renounce its rebellion as already agreed. The Envoys further call upon the Government of the DRC to restrain from further military action at this stage.

Recognizing substantial progress in the Kampala Dialogue, the Envoys urge both parties to remain committed to seeing the political process through to a final and principled agreement that ensures the disarmament and demobilization of the M23 and accountability for human rights abuses.

The joint ICGLR/SADC summit in Pretoria presents an important opportunity to build consensus on ending the immediate security crisis and moving forward with full implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement.