The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) convened for its 1203rd meeting on March 4, 2024, to address the escalating situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and discuss the deployment of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC). The communique issued following the meeting outlined several critical decisions and resolutions.
The PSC emphasized the importance of conflict resolution and peacekeeping efforts in line with the Organisation of African Unity’s 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration. The commitment to achieving a conflict-free continent and realizing Agenda 2063’s flagship projects, including Silencing the Guns by 2030, remained at the forefront of the Council’s concerns.
President Emilia Mkusa, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia to the AU and Chairperson of the PSC for March 2024, led the discussions, along with key statements from Dr. Alhaji Sarjoh Bah and H.E. Christophe Lutundula Apala Pen’Apala, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Peace and Security Council expressed commendation for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s successful conduct of elections in December 2023, congratulating President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo on his re-election for a second term. However, the resurgence of the March 23 Movement (M23) in the Eastern DRC raised deep concerns, leading to the unanimous condemnation of human rights abuses by M23, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), and other negative forces and armed groups.
The Council also expressed alarm over the worsening insecurity in the Eastern DRC, resulting in a dire humanitarian situation for affected communities. Urging the immediate cessation of hostilities, the creation of humanitarian corridors, and the urgent cantonment and disarmament of armed groups, the PSC emphasized the importance of addressing the crisis diplomatically.
Reaffirming the relevance of the 2013 Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region, the Council called for its revitalization and encouraged signatory countries and the international community to fully implement their commitments. The importance of diplomatic solutions, particularly through the Nairobi and Luanda processes, was stressed, with acknowledgment and applause for mediation efforts by President João Manuel Lourenço of Angola and former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya.
The Council endorsed the deployment of SAMIDRC in the Eastern DRC and requested the AU Commission to provide necessary support for SAMIDRC, including from the AU Peace Fund Crisis Reserve Facility. Tribute was paid to SAMIDRC Troop contributing countries (TCCs) — Malawi, South Africa, and Tanzania — for their commitment to promoting peace, security, and stability in the region. The Council also expressed condolences to those who lost their lives in the line of duty and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
In concluding the communique, the PSC requested the AU Commission to transmit the document to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for information and to request the UNSC to provide the required material and financial resources for SAMIDRC’s effective discharge of its mandate. The Council resolved to remain actively seized of the matter, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the crisis in the Eastern DRC.
