From 29 August to 2 September, pursuant to the decision of the 11th Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM) Summit held in Bujumbura, Burundi, the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the (AUC) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), Bineta Diop, led a high-level women’s delegation for a peace advocacy mission in Kinshasa and Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The delegation was composed of 14 senior women leaders from the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) and the Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation (Femwise). During the mission, the delegation conducted training and capacity building to strengthen women’s groups' capacity to work more in synergy towards a durable peace in the DRC. UNOAU provided technical, advisory and financial support in preparation for the mission and in support of the delegation.

Together with other UN counterparts, particularly the UN Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes (UN OSESG-GL), United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and UN Women, and in close coordination with the AU, UNOAU contributed to the preparation of the mission and provided logistical support as well as funding for documentation and advocacy materials during the mission.

Cognizant of the situation in the DRC, particularly the re-emergence of armed groups in Eastern DRC, the anticipated general elections in December 2023, the deployment of the East African Community (EAC) Regional Force, the ongoing Nairobi peace processes and the PSC decision to urgently revitalize the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSCF)for the DRC and the Region and the dire situation of women and girls of the DRC, the AUC WPS mission aimed at amplifying the voices of women in addressing the various peace, security and development challenges in the country. The mission ultimately focused on enhancing peace efforts to resolve conflict and end violence against women and girls in the DRC, while advocating for an inclusive peace process that ensures women’s participation and leadership, including in the context of the upcoming general elections.