MEDIA ADVISORY:

Opening Ceremony of the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the Joint Coordination Mechanism (JCM) of the Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord’s Resistance Army (RCI-LRA)

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

Why:

i To review the current LRA threat level and progress being made towards the elimination of the group and its threat in the region;

ii To review the counter-LRA strategy vis-à-vis the key challenges impeding the effectiveness of the key components of the Initiative, namely the JCM Secretariat, Office of the Special Envoy for LRA issues, and the operations of the RTF;

iii To provide strategic direction and guidance on the future sustenance of the RCI-LRA, taking cognisance of the pertinent challenges and the possible additional sources of funding;

iv To consider the development of an exit strategy for the RTF;

v To prepare the ground for the post-LRA stabilisation and rehabilitation of the affected areas, pursuant to the appeal of the 299th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council which, when authorising the operationalisation of the RCI-LRA on 22 November 2011, requested the World Bank and the African Development Bank to assist in assessing the rehabilitation needs of LRA-affected areas and developing a strategy for their rehabilitation;

vi To consider the renewal of the mandate of the RCI-LRA, as the current mandate of the Initiative expires on 22 May 2016.;

When:

Opening of the Chiefs of Defence Staff Meeting: 0930 – 1000h, Friday 20 May 2016;

Opening of the Ministerial Meeting: 1500 – 1520h Friday 20 May 2016;

Where:

Committee Room I, Old AU Conference Complex,

AU Commission headquarters, Addis Ababa

Who:

i Commission Officials and Staff;

ii AU Regional Task Force (RTF) Senior Leadership;

iii AU Special Representatives to the DRC, CAR, South Sudan and Sudan;

iv National LRA Focal Points, Chiefs of Defence Staff and Ministers of Defence of RTF Troop Contributing Countries;

v Partners and Observers;

Journalists are invited to cover the Opening Ceremonies

Media Contacts:

Marsden Momanyi, focal Communications Officer, AUC, +251 923 574 014, momanyim@africa-union.or