The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Mahmoud Ali Youssouf Saturday welcomed the signing of a peace agreement between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Alliance Fleuve Congo / March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) in Doha, Qatar.
In a statement issued shortly after the signing , the chairperson said the agreement marks a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability in eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region.
He applauded the constructive role played by the United States and Qatar, and acknowledges the invaluable contributions of all stakeholders, including the regional facilitators from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The chairperson of the 55-member continental organisation also commended the AU’s “tireless efforts to champion peace and reconciliation between the two warring forces and Great Lakes region through João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola, and Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé of Togo, who served as mediator.
He also saluted the spirit of dialogue, compromise, and political will demonstrated by the governments of the DRC and Rwanda.
The African Union remains fully committed to working with all stakeholders to support the successful implementation of the peace agreement and to contribute to sustainable peace, security, and development in the DRC and the region, the statement added.
On June 27, the two countries’ foreign ministers signed a peace deal and met with United States President Donald Trump at the White House.
Trump warned of “very severe penalties, financial and otherwise” if the deal is violated.
The US president had also invited Tshisekedi and Kagame to Washington to sign a package of deals that Massad Boulos, Trump’s senior adviser for Africa, dubbed the “Washington Accord”.
But he had also said US officials hope to secure a final deal in Doha.
MG/as/APA