PSC/PR/COMM.(CDLXXXVIII) Page 2 6. Notes with deep concern the insecurity that continues to affect eastern DRC and the criminal and heinous attacks committed against civilian populations, in particular women and children, due to the continued military activities, smuggling and other activities carried out by the negative forces, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), the Allied Democratic Forces/National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (ADF/NALU), the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the National Liberation Forces (FNL) of Burundi, as well as the serious humanitarian consequences resulting therefrom ; 7. Reiterates the need and urgency of the effective neutralization of all the negative forces, in accordance with its earlier pronouncements on the issue and those of the ICGLR and SADC, as well as with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. In this regard, Council reiterates AU’s full support to the UN Mission for the Stabilization of the DRC (MONUSCO) and its Intervention Brigade, established under resolution 2098 of 28 March 2013. Council renews its appreciation to the African Troop Contributing Countries of the Intervention Brigade, namely Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania, for their commitment and the sacrifices made; 8. Expresses its deep concern about the refusal of the FDLR to disarm and demobilize voluntarily, as they had pledged to do, by the deadline of 2 January 2015 set by the ICGLR and SADC, with the support of the AU and the UN, which constitutes a challenge to the entire international community. Council strongly condemns the continuation by the FDLR of their activities, and stresses that the achievement of sustainable peace, security and stability in eastern DRC, in particular, and the Great Lakes Region, in general, requires the unconditional and full disarmament and demobilization of the FDLR, as well as of the other negative forces, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions; 9. Recalls that, pursuant to the relevant provisions of resolutions 2098 (2013) and 2147 (2014) of 28 March 2013 and 28 March 2014, as well as the decisions of the mini-Summit of the ICGLR of 14 August 2014 and the SADC Summit of 17 and 18 August 2014, MONUSCO and the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) had been entrusted with the mandate to take the necessary steps for the neutralization of the FDLR, in case of non-observance of the deadline of 2 January 2015 set for their voluntary disarmament and demobilization; 10. Welcomes the announcement made by the Congolese authorities, on 29 January 2015, to carry out, with the logistical support of MONUSCO, the forced disarmament of the FDLR, and takes note of their subsequent decision of 15 February 2015 to renounce any support from MONUSCO in the operations against the FDLR. Council urges the DRC Government and the UN to urgently consult in order to establish the necessary conditions that would enable MONUSCO, through its Intervention Brigade, to contribute, through the provision of the required support, to the effective neutralization of the FDLR, the pursuit of the restoration of State authority and the protection of civilian populations, in accordance with the relevant provisions of resolution 2098 (2013). Council requests the Commission to urgently dispatch a mission to the DRC to help overcome this difficulty;