Statement by South Africa on the disarmament of Forces for Democratic Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

12 January 2015

The South African Government has taken note of the United Nations Security Council Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2015/1) of 8 January 2015 concerning the disarmament of the FDLR (see here).

South Africa reiterates that the FDLR has failed to comply with the 2 January 2015 deadline set by the Heads of State and Government of Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) for the FDLR to disarm voluntarily or face military action, and has therefore rendered military option inevitable.

South Africa is a troop contributor to the MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) - Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), established by UN Resolution 2098 of 2013 and operating under UN command.

We reaffirm our commitment to the objectives for which the FIB was established, inter alia, for the neutralisation of negative forces in the eastern DRC, as demonstrated by the participation of our troops in various MONUSCO operations including the latest joint MONUSCO/FARDC operation of 5 January 2015 against the rebel group Forces for National Liberation (FNL).

As one of the Guarantors to the Peace Security Cooperation (PSC) Framework Agreement, South Africa will continue, individually as a country and as part of the continent and the international community, to work for lasting peace in the DRC and the entire Great Lakes region.

Statement issued by Mr Clayson Monyela, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, January 12 2015

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