Téte António, representing the President, João Lourenço, who chairs the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL), said this Wednesday at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, that the illicit trafficking of natural resources in the region of African Great Lakes is the main source of funding for armed groups that cause instability.
"It is of fundamental importance that the nexus between natural resources and conflicts is highlighted in the formulation of appropriate responses and mitigation measures" said Téte António, in New York.
The minister presented as an example the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where "the concentration of minerals and precious metals represents a multidimensional challenge for the economic and human development of the surrounding countries".
Despite positive progress in recent years in the Great Lakes region, challenges such as "illicit exploitation of natural resources, tense relations between some countries and the large number of refugees and internally displaced persons" (within the country of origin), highlighted.
Téte António added that CIRGL continues to have concerns about human rights violations, humanitarian problems and the growing terrorist threat in the south.
"A renewed commitment is mandatory", defended the minister, in the search for "sustainable development, strong leadership, political will and healthy institutions" in the region.
These are "essential prerequisites", he continued, for the participation of citizens and communities "in socio-economic and political choices, decentralization services, transparency in the public sector and financial management".
As acting president of CIRGL, Angola has a strong commitment to prevention diplomacy, underlined Téte António, with the aim of "putting the region on the path of sustainable development, with the promotion of investments and greater participation of international financial institutions and the sector private".
"Angola will continue its efforts, during the presidency of the CIRGL, to consolidate peace and conflict prevention in the region, with close cooperation and consultation with stakeholders, promoting a common vision to respond to security, peace and development challenges." declared the person responsible.
The Angolan diplomat chief noted and hailed the peaceful transfers of power in recent years in the DRC and Burundi as "remarkable progress in the region", in addition to the signing and implementation of peace agreements in the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Sudan.
The "full implementation" of peace agreements, including those of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a 'sine qua non' condition to resolve the root causes of conflicts and obstacles, defended Téte António.
The Foreign Minister once again highlighted the Angolan President's appeal to the UN Security Council, on June 23, which defended the suspension of the arms embargo on the Central African Republic.
"The appeal is still valid," said Téte António, stressing regional concern "at a time of gradual movements of terrorism in Africa, its proliferation, and illicit trafficking in natural resources."
João Lourenço criticized in June that the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations organization since 2013 "makes it impossible for the Central African government to acquire arms", considering that the measure is no longer appropriate to the current situation and denies the "inalienable right" of all States to "create their own capacity to defend themselves against internal and external threats".
The Republic of Angola assumed the presidency of the CIRGL on 20 November 2020.
