EU-AFRICA: Great Lakes Region peace and security our core concern
There is need to find a lasting solution to the ongoing crisis in the democratic republic of Congo (DRC), the European Union in partnership with Africa has said.
As the European Union (EU) – Africa partnership gears itself to celebrate its 25 years after inception this May, it has raised concerns over the growing unrest being witnessed and called for peace and security within the Great Lakes Region.
The high-powered delegation consisting of European Union Special Representative (EUSR) Johan Borgstam and other key speakers that has just met in Addis Ababa Ethiopia is raising eyebrows over the growing unrest especially in the democratic republic of Congo (DRC) and is working on how the can calm down the situation for peace to prevail.
The 6-7th March Addis meeting which was also attended by the African Union commissioner for political peace and security Ambassador Bankole Adoye, Javier Nino Perez, European Union (EU) Ambassador for the African Union, United Nations (UN) special representative for the secretary general to the AU and head of United Nations office to the African union (UNOAU) Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Ambassadors drawn from Kenya, Angola, DRC, Rwanda and South Africa, various think tanks, alongside resident European union member states and international partners, discussed how it will enhance peace and security cooperation.
“The main purpose of the visit was to engage with the African union leadership and also to clearly understand the role of the African union commission towards the ongoing great lakes crisis,” Borgstam said.
The European Union special representative shared with the stakeholders on how best the European Union (EU) could support regional organisations to be able to tackle the ongoing unrest in Eastern Congo.
“We are calling on all the interested parties to embrace the ongoing dialogue for the nation to reach an amicable and positive solution. At a time of urgency as we are witnessing the escalating situation in DRC, it is high time for the African union and its member states to display its leadership mantle and ensure that the two warring factions hold their fire and resolve to get back to the negotiating table and as the European union is ready and willing to support that to see peace prevail in the war torn country,” he said.
European union Ambassador for the African union Javier Nino Perez outlined that the Addis Ababa visit was part of the union’s extensive mission to the region including DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania with an already diplomatic visits in Kampala and Nairobi having been accomplished last week.
Since his appointment as the European Union special representative (EUSR) in September 2024, Johan Borgstam has been mandated to lead the realization of the renewed European Union Great Lakes strategy that calls for support towards peace stability and security in the region through ensuring there is de-escalation of tensions and instead promote dialogue and long term regional cohesion.
The European Union is working around the clock to put to an end the ongoing conflict in Eastern DRC which has been heightened by renewed offensive unleashed by the M23 militia, being allegedly supported by the Rwandan armed forces (RDF) and which has been sighted as slowdown to the African led efforts a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
