President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Bujumbura, Burundi, to attend the 11th High Level Segment of the Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM) of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes Region.
The Summit for Heads of State and Government is taking place today, 06 May 2023.
The PSC Framework, also known as the Addis Ababa Agreement, was signed on 24 February 2013, with the aim of stabilising the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and ending recurring cycles of devastating conflict in eastern DRC that affect the stability and development of the Great Lakes region. The agreement was brokered by the African Union and the United Nations.
Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, and Sudan are signatories to the framework.
The Summit takes place against the backdrop of the deteriorating political and security situation in the Eastern DRC caused by a resurgence of the M23 Movement, which has led to tensions between the DRC and Rwanda. As a result, the Summit will receive an update on various initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions between the two countries.
The Summit will deliberate on the deployment of East African Community (EAC) troops and their role in dealing with negative forces in the eastern DRC, especially the M23.
As 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the PSC Framework, the Summit will focus on the revitalisation of the framework and will consider a plan to enable this. The current crisis caused by the clashes between Sudan Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces will likely be discussed during the Summit.
President Ramaphosa is accompanied by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes.
The outcome of the Summit will be eagerly awaited as the PSC Framework has the potential to bring much-needed stability to the DRC and the Great Lakes region.
 of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes Region.){kind=link}