Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim and I are on an unprecedented joint visit to support the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region.

I wholeheartedly welcome the extra 1 billion dollars Dr. Kim announced today to support social safety nets, cross-border trade, energy and essential infrastructure.

This is essential for helping to address the underlying causes of conflict.

Today we met with President Kabila, Prime Minister Matata Ponyo and other Ministers, members of the Senate and National Assembly, and representatives of civil society.

In each meeting I emphasiszed my concern about the renewed outbreak of hostilities near Goma.

I also emphasized that this will not affect our plans to visit this war-weary city.

The people of eastern DRC have suffered too long.

The Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework gives the DRC and the Great Lakes region its best hope for peace in many years.

We call it the framework for hope.

Security is an important focus.

The Intervention Brigade being deployed within MONUSCO is designed to bring added stability and protect civilians.

But it is not a substitute for the security forces of the DRC.

They have the primary responsibility to ensure security and protect the rights of all Congolese.

I welcome the establishment of the national monitoring mechanism that will oversee the country’s own commitments to the framework.

And I look forward to President Kabila’s presence in Addis Ababa for the first meeting of the regional oversight mechanism on Sunday.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Framework is not simply about security.

It establishes a much larger political process to create the conditions for peace and economic development in the DRC and the region.

To break out of the cycles of violence, we need new approaches.

That means good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

These are central to accelerating development.

Women and girls must be freed from the threat of sexual violence.

Communities must be given access to health services, electricity, education, jobs, opportunity.

The framework for hope must be an agenda for action.

A peace deal must deliver a peace dividend.

We must invest in the people who have suffered so much.

That is why I welcome the commitment of Dr. Kim and the pledges of the World Bank.

We are committed to doing much more for crisis-affected countries around the world – starting here and now.

Both organizations have a long history of supporting development here in the DRC and throughout the region.

The United Nations is assisting the Government to build institutions for justice and good governance; reduce poverty, hunger and the burden of disease; educate young people and empower women.

The World Bank’s new investments will be a major boost to our efforts to support sustainable economic growth.

Together, the World Bank and the United Nations are determined to support peace and development that will benefit all the people of the DRC and the Great Lakes region.

Thank you.