Angolan Secretary of State Attends UN Security Council Session on Great Lakes Region

Esmeralda Mendonça, the Angolan Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, attended a UN Security Council session on the situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa on April 25, 2024 in New York. The session concentrated on the ongoing security crisis in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly the intensification of the conflict involving the M23 paramilitary group.

During the session, representatives expressed serious concern about the worsening situation in the region. The M23 group, with the full support of the Rwandan government, has further expanded into key areas of the DRC and threatens regional stability. Tensions have increased between Kinshasa and Kigali as a result. The representatives called for the full implementation of the Luanda process agreements to address the crisis.

Why this matters: The conflict in the Great Lakes region has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with 2.5 million people displaced and over 25.4 million requiring assistance in the DRC alone. The weak international response to the $2.58 billion humanitarian appeal, with only 15% funded, emphasizes the pressing need for greater global attention and support.

The Chinese envoy, Fu Cong, urged an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation of the situation. He called on the international community to help promote peace, security, and development in the region by supporting regional efforts to maintain common security, promote disarmament and reintegration, and address development challenges. Fu emphasized that "poverty and underdevelopment are the root causes of the protracted unrest" in the Great Lakes.

Participants at the session, including signatories of the Shared Commitments on Women and Peace and Security (WPS), reaffirmed their commitment to fully integrate the WPS agenda into their work. They urged the facilitators of the Luanda and Nairobi processes to appoint women mediators and gender advisors to ensure women's full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation. The representatives also expressed grave concern about the escalating human rights abuses and demanded an immediate cessation of all acts of sexual and gender-based violence.

The session highlighted the continued illegal exploitation of the DRC's natural resources fueling the conflict. Representatives supported the actions of the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO and regional efforts by the Southern African Development Community to promote a settlement. They emphasized the importance of intensifying regional mediation and establishing direct dialogue among the Great Lakes states to find lasting solutions to the complex regional problems. As the Chinese envoy Fu Cong stated, "China remains committed to supporting Africa's collective self-empowerment and integration process, and stands ready to work with the international community to build up Africa's capacity for independent development and promote regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity."

Key Takeaways

• Angolan FM attended UN Security Council session on DRC crisis
• M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, threaten stability in Great Lakes
• Humanitarian crisis in DRC with 2.5M displaced, $2.58B underfunded
• China calls for cessation of hostilities, regional development support
• Calls for women's participation in peace processes, end to rights abuses