New York (Union)
Yesterday, the UAE affirmed its commitment to support the efforts of the region, the United Nations and all other partners to achieve peace in the Great Lakes region, pointing out that this is the least that the people of the region deserve.
In a statement before a session of the Security Council on the Great Lakes region in Africa, made by Saud Al Mazrouei, the Acting Political Coordinator, she explained that despite the tireless efforts made by the countries of the region to confront internal and regional challenges, the road ahead is still long.
Al-Mazrouei said, according to the statement: “More efforts must be made to restore good-neighborly relations, address differences by peaceful means, and strengthen cooperation between the countries of the Great Lakes region to consolidate regional peace and security.”
Al-Mazrouei stated that the nature of the interrelated challenges in the Great Lakes region requires continuing to focus on regional dialogue and good-neighborly relations as basic pillars for addressing these challenges. In the statement, he praised the ongoing regional initiatives, including the Luanda and Nairobi processes, to discuss ways to consolidate cooperation and relations between the countries of the region, expressing the UAE’s hope that the decision issued by the joint mini-summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the East African Community will contribute to enhancing consistency and integration. among these regional efforts. And he continued, “In the context of the African Union Peace and Security Council’s recognition of the importance of activating the framework for action on peace and security urgently, we affirm that political will is the key to achieving this.” He stressed the importance of ensuring the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all tracks of dialogue and various regional peace efforts, as a prerequisite for reaching any permanent agreements. Al-Mazrouei said, “Work must continue to address security challenges in the region, foremost of which is violence, in order to achieve sustainable peace and security, and this includes addressing the continuous attacks launched by armed groups in eastern Congo, especially those targeting civilians.” He warned that armed groups pose serious threats to the lives of the population in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the entire Great Lakes region.
He added, “As we mentioned previously, all armed groups must immediately cease their hostilities, refrain from targeting civilians or civilian institutions, and unconditionally lay down their weapons, while adhering to all ceasefires in the region.”
He stated that in light of the armed groups continuing to finance their criminal actions through the illegal exploitation of natural resources, “it is important that our focus not deviate from cutting off these sources of financing, as we are pleased in this context with the participation of the Special Envoy and the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region in the Tenth Dubai Precious Metals Conference, Which was held last November and provided an opportunity for important and urgent discussions about the repercussions of this illegal trade and ways to address it, including by strengthening regional cooperation and building the capabilities of countries in the field of managing and protecting natural resources in a sustainable manner, in the event that countries request that.
Al Mazrouei pointed out that the humanitarian crisis in the region should not be overlooked, which is exacerbated by armed conflicts and climate change and becomes more complex with the increase in the number of people who have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety and security, as there are about five million refugees and more than nine million displaced people in the region, including 5.8 million displaced people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
humanitarian efforts
Saud Al Mazrouei expressed, according to the statement, the UAE’s appreciation for the efforts made by the governments of Sudan and Uganda in dealing with the humanitarian crisis in the Great Lakes region, by hosting the largest number of refugees in the region. He added, “To prevent the exacerbation of displacement and ensure an effective response to humanitarian needs, we urge all arms bearers to abide by international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers.” He stressed the importance of continuing to pay attention to the health conditions in the region, especially as it is vulnerable to the spread of diseases such as Ebola, praising the relentless efforts made by Uganda to combat this virus, which succeeded in stopping its spread in the country.
