The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, received & held consultations this morning with members of the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG) at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The exchanges focused on developments in the Great Lakes region, particularly the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, & their implications for regional peace, security, & development.
The Chairperson and ICG members underscored the importance of sustaining ongoing efforts to promote dialogue, de-escalation, & confidence-building.

They welcomed progress achieved through the Washington Accord & the Doha process, & stressed the importance of consolidating gains through the implementation of agreed measures, including a durable ceasefire, enhanced humanitarian access, confidence-building initiatives, & continued engagement among the concerned parties.

The Chairperson reiterated the African Union’s lead role in supporting regional & international efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful & lasting resolution to the crisis, and called for continued alignment and coordination with AU-led initiatives. In this regard, ICG members reaffirmed their support for the AU's efforts & its central role in advancing peace, security, & stability in the Great Lakes region.

The meeting also reaffirmed their conviction that a sustainable solution can only be achieved through dialogue and peaceful means, & called on all stakeholders to uphold their commitments, protect civilians, facilitate unhindered humanitarian access, & respect international humanitarian law.

The Chairperson further noted that the Ebola outbreak is placing additional strain on an already fragile humanitarian situation & underscored the need for strengthened regional cooperation, cross-border coordination, & public health preparedness, in line with the outcomes of the recent AU High-Level Meeting on Ebola in Bujumbura.

The Chairperson & the ICG members reaffirmed the importance of inclusive dialogue, good governance, and regional cooperation as indispensable pillars for sustainable peace, stability, and development in the Great Lakes region.