The United Nations and the African Union have agreed to provide continuous support to Togo's mediation efforts to resolve the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This agreement was reached on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, which will take place from September 22 to 28. The session is themed "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations in Service of All".
According to a report published by the AU, the meeting reiterated the common commitment to support Africa's efforts to address its structural challenges and promote a more equitable international order. Issues discussed included reform of the international financial architecture, debt sustainability, and better valuation of Africa's critical mineral resources. The situation in eastern DRC was also reviewed during the meeting.
The meeting discussed the evolution of the situation in DRC and the continuous support to Togo's mediation efforts in the context of the Congolese crisis. The AU reported that the discussion also covered the situation in the Sahel, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and DRC, with a focus on sustaining support to AU-led mediation in DRC.
In July, the AU's panel of facilitators adopted a six-month roadmap to address the crisis in eastern DRC. The roadmap provides a coordinated framework for the panel of facilitators and the Independent Joint Secretariat to support the efforts of the AU mediator, accompany the implementation of existing commitments, and strengthen coordination with the Washington and Doha processes.
The plan includes mechanisms for monitoring, reporting, joint analysis, field missions, resource mobilization, and coordination with regional and international partners. A preparatory technical meeting was held on July 24, bringing together the AU Commission, SADC, EAC, CIRGL, and representatives of the AU's special envoys in the region, with support from the Botswana government and international partners.
The agreement between the UN and AU aims to strengthen the African peace and security architecture, consolidate preventive diplomacy and mediation, and ensure that necessary resources are available to promote African solutions to African challenges.
The situation in eastern DRC remains a pressing concern, with ongoing efforts to address the crisis through mediation and other diplomatic means. The UN and AU have pledged to continue their support to these efforts, in line with their commitment to promoting peace and stability in Africa.
Key points
- UN, AU agree to support Togo's mediation efforts in eastern DRC
- AU adopts six-month roadmap to address crisis in eastern DRC
- Agreement aims to strengthen African peace and security architecture
