U.S. Issues Statement On Developments In The Great Lakes Region

Marie Harf
Deputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 5, 2013

The United States welcomes the announcement that M23 will end its rebellion in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We also welcome the DRC government’s positive response to the M23 statement, and its willingness to return to Kampala to sign a final agreement.

We commend Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Defense Minister Crispus Kiyonga for their facilitation of the Kampala Dialogue. We encourage the parties to follow through on a political process that leads to a final agreement that provides for disarming and demobilizing M23 and ensures accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Reaching a negotiated end to the rebellion is a critical first step to ending the instability in the DRC.

At the same time, we call on regional states to build on these positive steps by initiating a broader dialogue focused on implementing the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement, addressing the root causes of chronic instability in the DRC and the Great Lakes, and expanding regional economic development. The United States will continue to support these and other regional and international efforts to reach a sustainable and durable peace.