PSC/PR/BR/1.(CDXLII) Page 1 PRESS STATEMENT The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 442nd meeting, held on 17 June 2014, received a briefing on the situation in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the implementation status of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the DRC and the Region. Council also received the statements made by the representatives of the DRC, Angola, in its capacity as the country chairing currently the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and Rwanda. Council, referring to the Conclusions of the Dialogue between the Government of the DRC and the M23, as adopted in Nairobi, on 12 December 2013, noted with satisfaction the adoption and promulgation, by the Government, of the amnesty law for the acts of insurrection and war, as well as political offences, committed on the national territory between 18 February 2006 to 20 December 2013. Council welcomed the measures taken for the ex-militia of the M23 and the ex-combatants of other armed groups to benefit from the provisions of this law, and encouraged the Government of the DRC to pursue the efforts initiated, particularly by facilitating the return of the ex-militias of the M23 to their country. Council reiterated its appreciation to President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, for having successfully facilitated the Dialogue and for his commitment to the promotion of peace, security and stability in the Great Lakes Region. Council also encouraged the Government to redouble its efforts with a view to implementing the other aspects of the Nairobi Conclusions, including those relating to Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) and Disarmament, Demobilization, Repatriation, Reintegration and Resettlement (DDRRR) processes. In this regard, Council made an appeal to the international community for the mobilization of the necessary financial resources. Council encouraged the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and the MONUSCO Intervention Brigade to continue and intensify their efforts to neutralize the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). Council recalled its earlier decisions on the urgency of neutralizing the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and demanded that the FDLR implement without delay the voluntary disarmament process they have announced. Council welcomed the recommendations of the Committee of Ministers of Defense and Chiefs of Defense Staff of the member countries of the ICGLR, held in Luanda, Angola, on 13 June 2014. Council noted with satisfaction the efforts being made by the Congolese Government to honor its commitments under the PSC Framework, particularly the measures related to decentralization, the reforms under way within the army, the security services and the judiciary, as well as the redeployment of the administration in the areas previously occupied by the armed groups, including the M23.