Countries of the Great Lakes region sign deal on DR Congo; UNSC extends mandate of UN office in Guinea-Bissau; UN Chief condemns attacks in Damascus, Hyderabad and Quetta
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  • In the presence of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, eleven countries in the Great Lakes region signed a deal that is aimed to bring peace and stability to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The accord calls for regional countries to refrain from interfering in each other’s affairs and aims to encourage reform of weak institutions in the DRC. The deal could also lead to the creation of a special UN “intervention brigade” in eastern DR Congo to combat rebel groups.1 Ban Ki-moon stressed that the deal was the beginning of a “comprehensive approach that will require sustained engagement”. The countries that signed the deal include Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania. 2

    In another development, the UN Security Council extended the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) for three months till 31 May 2013 and also requested the Secretary-General to provide recommendations on its future mandate. The Council also reiterated its demand to the armed to submit themselves fully to civilian control. The national authorities were urged to take all necessary measures to protect human rights and end impunity. 3

    In other developments, the UN Secretary-General condemned the series of bombings in Syria’s capital, Damascus which killed at least 50 people and left hundreds injured.4 He also strongly condemned the indiscriminate attacks against civilians in Hyderabad, India that killed 16 people and injured 100 more.5 The UN Secretary General also condemned the terrorist attacks carried out in Quetta, Pakistan which resulted in 80 deaths and wounded nearly 200 people. 6

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