President Ramaphosa has expresses concern over violence and conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly the resurgence of the M23 armed group that was believed to have been dismantled in 2013/2014.
Speaking in Burundi during the 11th High Level Segment of the Regional Oversight Mechanism, the President stated that the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the region requires urgent attention. Over 800,000 people have been displaced by the conflict, and there are gross violations of human rights being perpetrated against women and girls.
The PSC Framework, signed in 2013, aimed to achieve peace, security, stability, and development for the DRC and the Great Lakes Region, but these noble goals have not been achieved. The President believes that actionable decisions need to be taken to address the shortcomings emanating from the framework not being implemented.
He called for investment in building the institutional capacity of border management and control and the United Nations system to continue to provide capacity and technical assistance for state institutions to maintain standards of accountability with respect to gender-based violence.
The President hopes the second decade of existence of the PSC Framework will “breathe new life” into its implementation.