www.apanews.net,le 21 janvier 2010
AU dispatches assessment mission to DRC and Burundi

APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The African Union Commission dispatches on Thursday a multidisciplinary assessment mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi, to assess the situation in both countries, AU said on Thursday.
The mission will make recommendations on the contribution that could be made by the AU and its Member States towards post conflict reconstruction and peace building in both countries, within the context of the AU Framework on Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development adopted by the AU Executive Council at its session held in Banjul, The Gambia, in June 2006.
“It should be noted that both the DRC and Burundi are engaged in post conflict reconstruction processes following the remarkable progress made these two countries in recent years and the restoration of peace,” said the commission.
The mission, which includes experts from the AU and the concerned Regional Economic Communities, will stay in both countries for a month and will meet with the concerned Burundian and Congolese authorities and representatives of the international community.
The mission is a follow up to the decisions taken by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU at its 163rd and 199th meetings, held on 17 August and 22 December 2008, respectively.
In these decisions, the PSC requested the Chairperson of the Commission to take the required measures to significantly enhance the contribution of the AU to the post conflict reconstruction process in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Burundi, including through the early dispatch of a multidisciplinary mission in both countries.
The mission is also part of the follow up of the Plan of Action adopted by the Special Session of the Assembly of the Union on the Consideration and Resolution of Conflicts in Africa, held in Tripoli on 31 August 2009.
The session stressed the need to mobilize greater support from Member States towards post conflict reconstruction and development efforts in the DRC and Burundi, and the Tripoli Declaration proclaiming 2010 as the Year of Peace and Security.