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Uganda has been chosen to host the 12th High-Level Oversight Meeting on Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes Region. The decision was made during the 11th High-Level Meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for DRC and the region held in Bujumbura, Burundi on Saturday 6th May 2023. It was attended by Heads of State and Government of the Signatory Countries of the PSC Framework. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the progress and challenges in the implementation of the PSC Framework ten years after its signing.

Uganda has been selected to host the 12th High-Level oversight meeting on Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes Region. The decision was reached on 6^th May 2023 during the 11th High-Level Meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for DRC and the Great Lakes region.

The summit held in Bujumbura, Burundi was attended by the Heads of State and Government of the Signatory Countries of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The purpose of the meeting was to review recent developments in the region as well as progress and challenges in the implementation of the PSC Framework, ten years after its signing on 24 February 2013 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was agreed that the leaders will meet again in Kampala, Uganda, in 2024 to further review the implementation of the PSC Framework. During the summit, the outgoing PSC Chair H.E Felix Antoine Tshishekedi (President of DRC) handed over leadership to Burundi President, H.E Evariste Ndayishimiye. 

The meeting’s goal was to assess recent regional developments as well as the PSC Framework’s implementation 10 years after it was signed in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, on February 24, 2013. The leaders decided to get together again in Kampala, Uganda, in 2024 to discuss the PSC Framework’s implementation in more detail.

During the summit, Burundi President H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye took over as PSC Chair from outgoing PSC Chair H.E. Felix Antoine Tshishekedi (President of DRC).

The DRC is a wealthy nation with priceless natural resources, but owing to the instability in the country, its population have not reaped the benefits, according to United Nations (UN) Secretary General H.E. Antonio Guterres. He persuaded other nations in the area to pool their resources to support the stabilisation of their neighbour so that it may advance socially and economically.

The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region’s (ICGLR) Regional Youth Forum Chairperson for Peace and Security, Audrine Faith Otieno, blamed instability for the region’s high unemployment and poverty rates.

Otieno also urged regional leaders to follow through on the decisions they make at high-level summits in order to prevent these initiatives from being ineffective. She also expressed her gratitude to the Kenyan government for hosting their regional offices.

The departing PSC chair, H.E. Tshishekedi, thanked the participating nations for their unceasing efforts to ensure that the DRC regain stability. He further assured that due to the PSC Framework, peace will reign again in DRC, thus asking fellow leaders not to give up on their fruitful efforts. 

The President of Burundi H.E Ndayishimiye, who is also the incoming PSC chair thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who was in attendance, for playing a vital role in ensuring peace and security in the region. 

He also praised former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is facilitating the peace process, for the excellent work he has done to bring stability to the DRC.

The meeting was attended by the leaders of the following signatory nations: Republic of Angola, Republic of Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda, Republic of South Africa, Republic of South Sudan, Republic of Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Uganda, and Republic of Zambia.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, and the Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in charge of corporate affairs also participated in the deliberations as Guarantor Institutions of the PSC Framework.

The Heads of State also planted trees at State House – Bujumbura as a sign of conserving the environment.