The Chairperson of the African Union Commission to participate in the upcoming Summit of COMESA and the Extraordinary Summit of ICGLR, in Kampala, Uganda

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, November 22, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, will participate in the Summit of the Common Market of Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Extraordinary Summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),due to take place on 23 and 24 November 2012 respectively, in Kampala, Uganda.

The mission falls within the framework of the AU's continued support to the ongoing efforts aimed at finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the North Kivu Region of the DRC. In this respect, Dr. Dlamini Zuma had, on 19 November 2012, expressed concernover the serious deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in North Kivu, and strongly condemned all violence targeted against the civilian population.

The Chairperson of the Commission again reiterates the need for all stakeholders to extend unconditional cooperation to the ongoing efforts within the framework of the ICGLR, which are being undertaken with the full support of the AU.

In this context, the AU Commission is holding continuous consultations with the Executive Secretariat of the ICGLR, as well as with the United Nations.

The Commission will also seize this opportunity to exchange views with key stakeholders on various subjects pertaining to the consolidation of peace, security, integration and development, including free trade and border issues.