United States Urges Diplomatic Efforts to Bring Peace to the Great Lakes Region
During a UN Security Council briefing on the situation in the Great Lakes Region, Ambassador Robert Wood emphasized the importance of diplomatic efforts to bring peace to the region and condemned the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Ambassador Wood stated, “There is no military solution to the crisis in the eastern DRC. We must do all we can to invigorate African-led diplomatic efforts to bring peace to the Great Lakes region.”
The United States remains deeply concerned about the staggering level of violence and criminality against civilian populations in the region, including human rights violations, unlawful use of child soldiers, and conflict-related sexual violence.
Ambassador Wood welcomed the open-ended ceasefire in eastern DRC announced by Angola and urged Rwanda and the DRC to implement their commitments under the Luanda process to deliver peace on the ground.
With nearly seven million internally displaced persons in the DRC, the United States has provided over $893 million in humanitarian assistance in fiscal year 2024. They called on all parties to grant access to comprehensive services for those affected by the conflict, especially survivors of gender-based violence.
The United States also urged the international community to mobilize additional resources to support UN agencies, funds, and programs in the region and called on governments to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations and abuses.
In order to ensure accountability, the United States will continue to pursue sanctions against individuals and entities who threaten peace and security in the DRC, urging Member States to join them in this process.
Ambassador Wood concluded by stating that the United States will continue to work closely with the DRC, Rwanda, Angola, the African Union, United Nations, and other partners to support regional diplomatic efforts under the Luanda and Nairobi processes to end the violence and reach a durable cessation of hostilities.
