Egypt’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York Ambassador Mohamed Idris briefed the UN Security Council on the situation in the Great Lakes in his capacity as the Chairman of the Peacebuilding Committee as part of the attention given by the Egyptian presidency to African issues.
Ambassador Idris reviewed the role of the Peacebuilding Commission in the Great Lakes and its close coordination with governments as well as its work in accordance with the national vision of the countries of the region in various fields such as enhancing cross-border cooperation, including security cooperation, confronting the consequences of the coronavirus and Ebola virus.
It also includes empowering women and enhancing their role in mediation for peace in the region and mobilising funding support through international funding agencies as well as developing disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes for the conflicting armed elements and addressing the roots of conflicts.
The briefing also included the committee’s vision of the future of its work under the Egyptian presidency in the Great Lakes region. it will, in coordination with the countries of the region, the International Conference on Great Lakes and the African Union, exert efforts during the coming period to support the new United Nations regional strategy for the region and the relevant Security Council resolutions.
Egypt has extended historical relations with the Great Lakes countries. It also plays an active role in the regional mechanisms through its adopted membership in the International Conference on Great Lakes Organisation and its role as a founding member of the African Union.
Egypt had also proposed an initiative to strengthen the efforts of the countries of the region towards challenges they face. The initiative resulted in the adoption of Security Council Resolution No. 2389 in 2017 during Egypt’s membership in the Council.
