U.S. Support for Peace and Security in Eastern Congo

We welcome the Democratic Republic of Congo Government’s recent proposal to eliminate the threat to peace and security posed by remnants of the former Rwandan Armed Forces (ex-FAR) and Interahamwe militia responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. We also welcome the Government of Rwanda’s response to the Congolese proposal to disarm and repatriate these forces. In keeping with President Bush’s and Secretary Rice’s long-standing personal commitment to the achievement of lasting peace and security in the African Great Lakes, we support these efforts.

We encourage the two governments, both of which are partners in the U.S.-Facilitated Tripartite Plus Joint Commission, to continue consulting closely with each other, and with the United Nations Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) on a comprehensive plan to end the violence in eastern Congo. We urge both states to convene immediately the Joint Verification Mechanism to assist in implementing the plan. As a friend to both countries, we stand ready to facilitate discussions, help with implementation, and support their efforts for the future of the region.