United Nations Radio

The UN Security Council has urged Africa's Great Lakes states to finalize preparations for a new summit to adopt a security, stability and development agreement.

The call came in a resolution, following a ministerial session on the volatile security situation in Central Africa's Great Lakes region. The summit was originally scheduled for last December, but was delayed due to elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Council stressed the need for governments in Africa's Great Lakes region to disarm and demobilize militias and armed groups which continue to attack civilians and UN and humanitarian personnel, thus threatening the stability of the region.

It strongly condemned the activities of the armed groups and reiterated its demand that such groups lay down their arms and engage voluntarily in their disarmament, repatriation, or resettlement. The one-day meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of Belgium, Burundi, Botswana, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Namibia, Qatar, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.