France welcomes the signing of the Washington Accords, on December 4, by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda. This progress was made possible by the commitment of all the parties, the efforts of the American and Qatari mediators with support from Togo, the African Union mediator and the countries of the region, whose representatives attended the ceremony in Washington. The Washington Summit creates new prospects for peace and stabilization in the Great Lakes region, while fighting continues in North and South Kivu. France calls on all stakeholders to immediately translate the provisions of the Washington peace accord into concrete actions on the ground.
France remains committed to ensuring that the momentum for peace created by the Washington Summit, the mediation effort by Doha and work by the African Union leads to swift, tangible improvements for the people in eastern DRC, in line with the Conference for Peace and Prosperity in the Great Lakes Region held in Paris on October 30. France will ensure that the announced commitments, particularly concerning humanitarian access and support for displaced people, are implemented in a manner consistent with current mediation efforts and the Washington Accords. The emergency response must remain a key priority for all the parties. France will maintain its support for actors on the ground (UN agencies, ICRC, NGOs) until peace is restored, along with its unwavering support for the aspirations of all the area’s civilian populations for a progressive return to normal life and economic development in the Great Lakes region.
