The Peace and Security Council of  the African Union  (AU), at  its 327th meetingheld on 14July  2012,  was  briefed  by  the  Commissioner  for  Peace and  Security  on  the  evolving situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republicof Congo (DRC).

Council  recalled  its  communiqué  PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCXXIV)  on  the  situationin  the DRC, adoptedat its 324th meeting, heldon 24 June 2012, and reiterated its firm condemnation of  the attacks by  the 23 March Movement  (M23) against  the Government of  the DRC, as well as AU’s supportto the efforts to fully restore State authority over the concerned areas. Council also  condemned  the  actions  of  the  othernegative  forcesoperating  in  the  region, includingthe FDLR.

 

Council noted with  satisfaction  the  terms of  the  communique of  the extraordinary meeting of  the Ministerial Committee of  the  International Conference on  the Great  Lakes Region (ICGLR), held in Addis Ababa, on 11 July 2012. 

 

Council commended, in particular, the member countries and the Secretariat of the ICGLR  for  their  efforts  to  resolve  the  crisis;  noted  the  decision  on  the  establishment  of aneutral  international  forceto  eliminate  the  negative  forces,  as  well  as  to  monitor  and secure  the  border  zones;  and  requested  the  Commission  to  support  the  efforts  being madein thisregard and toreport to it regularly onmeasurestaken to that effect. 

 

Council  encouraged  the  Governments  of  the  DRC  and  Rwanda  to  activate  the existing bilateral mechanisms  to address  insecurity  and  to build  confidence,  including  the Joint Verification Mechanism.

 

Council  welcomed  the  holding  of  anExtraordinary  Summit  of  the  ICGLR  in  Addis Ababa, on 15 July 2012. 

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