Vietnam supports UN strategy for peace promotion in Great Lakes Region

The local diplomat chaired an online meeting by the UN Security Council on the African Great Lakes region on April 12 in his role as rotating President of the UNSC for April.

Upon addressing the meeting, Ambassador Quy welcomed efforts that seek to reinforce solidarity and boost co-operation of countries within the area.

Despite this praise, he also shared the UNSC’s concerns relating to the ongoing security instability and challenging humanitarian situation which is impacting the region as a whole.

Furthermore, he also highlighted three major focuses that can achieve peace and sustainable development in the region, including continuing to promote regional cooperation, settling the root causes of conflicts, and striving to boost assistance given by the international community.

Huang Xia, special envoy of the UN Secretary‑General for the African Great Lakes region, presented the latest biannual report produced by the Secretary-General on the implementation of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the wider region.

He noted that countries in the area have continuously maintained commitments which seek to ramp up co-operation at both regional and bilateral levels in recent years.

Most notably, regional nations such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda have all moved to accelerate the normalisation of bilateral relations, whilst also expanding co-operation with partners both in and outside of the region.

In contrast, there remains challenges regarding the regional security situation, especially occurring in eastern Congo where armed groups have been engaged in the illegal exploitation and trade of natural resources, Xia said.

Moreover, Xia discussed plans to launch the UN’s strategy which is capable of promoting peace and security in the region, with a vision ahead for the next decade, which was adopted by the UN Secretary-General in October, 2020.

The 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework was signed by 13 countries within the African Great Lakes region, with commitments to co-operate in maintaining peace within Congo and the wider region. The agreement is sponsored by the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the African Great Lakes region, and the UN.