Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 25 November 2013. Mary Robinson, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes, has begun a week-long mission to help shore up peace efforts in the region, visiting Tanzania, Rwanda, Congo-Brazzaville, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
She will focus on both the immediate priority of reaching an agreed outcome to the Kampala dialogue, and on encouraging progress in implementing the broader commitments of the 11-nation Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region (known as the PSC Framework).

“Developments over the past month have brought renewed hope to people in the eastern DRC. Further efforts are needed to ensure that the country is rid of all negative forces and security is re-established sustainably. Progress on the larger political agenda is now urgently needed, as well. We must work to restore trust and take the steps that are needed to resolve the underlying causes of conflict and instability to the region,” the Special Envoy said at the outset of her mission.
Mrs. Robinson began her tour in Tanzania, a framework signatory, meeting today with President Kikwete and other officials in Dar es Salaam. She commended the role of Tanzanian troops in the UN’s new Force Intervention Brigade and extended her condolences to the Government and families of the fallen Tanzanian Soldiers. Talks focused on the need to enhance cooperation and sustained political dialogue among signatories of the Framework.
On 26 November, the Special Envoy visits Rwanda for discussions with top officials on concluding the Kampala Dialogue and on the implementation of the PSC Framework. She visits Congo-Brazzaville the same day.
On 27-29 November, she will visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including Kinshasa and Goma. Her discussions in the DRC will focus on the Kampala Dialogue, progress in the implementation of recommendations arising from the recently concluded Concertations Nationales, and support to the national oversight mechanism established under the PSC Framework.
On 30 November, Mary Robinson will attend the East African Community (EAC) Summit of Heads of States in Kampala. The Special Envoy intends to mobilize international support for regional organizations as part of the broader PSC Framework agenda for enhanced regional integration.