the leaders of the signatory States committed themselves to the respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty of neighbouring countries and also pledged not to provide support for armed groups. The DRC renewed its commitment to carry out reforms to consolidate peace and strengthen the State. This agreement identified 18 commitments (6 at the national level, 8 at the regional level and 4 at the international level) as a benchmark strategic framework to end the recurring cycle of violence in the sub-region. 8. In line with the commitments of the DRC, the country’s political landscape has improved in many respects. It has become more democratic and inclusive than in previous times. The Senate and the National Assembly are functioning in accordance with democratic principles. 9. Moreover, to strengthen national cohesion and curtail the state of insecurity in the Eastern part of the country, the President of the Republic convened a national dialogue in October, 2013, involving all the stakeholders in the nation. The victory of the FARDC over the M3 Rebel Movement was as a consequence of the national cohesion brought about by these consultations held in Kinshasa. Notwithstanding this success, the situation remains a little bit volatile since some armed groups (LRA, FDLR...) continue to be active in the East. In line with the recommendations of the consultative dialogue in Kinshasa, a government of national unity was put in place with the members of the opposition Republican party taking part. At the same time, Parliament passed an amnesty law in February, 2014 covering acts of insurrection and war, including political offences committed on the national territory. This law was promulgated by the Head of State and it is being implemented 10. To date, the government’s resolve is to complete the task of national reconciliation by further engaging in political negotiations, which this time around, will involve the radical section of the national political opposition within the framework of an inclusive national political dialogue convened by the Head of State, since October 2015, a process which is steered by a facilitator appointed by the African Union.. The set objective is to bring together all Congolese people to seek a common ideal of peace, democracy and development and to organize peaceful elections throughout the country. 11. On the economic front, since 2002, the economy of the DRC has returned to the growth path (with an average growth rate of 7.5 %), as the country takes advantage of the good demand outlook on the world market and the high prices of raw materials. This growth slowed down in 2009 following the global economic-financial crisis. Thanks to the global economic recovery in 2010, growth picked up in the DRC with a certain amount of vigour. It was stimulated by investments in the extractive industries and by the dynamism of the agricultural, construction and trade sectors (trade and telecommunications). Genera trade benefitted from the reforms carried out in the customs sector (review of the Customs Code, reduction in the number of services operating at the borders and removal of overlapping controls). The cancellation of 90% of the external debt in 2010, within the context of reaching the completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, helped to open up the fiscal space and to give the State increased resources to effectively implement its policy. 12. In 2014, the DRC attained an economic growth rate of 9.5%. The mining sector remains the key growth lever whereas it creates little value addition in terms of growth and employment, and is often subject to the shocks of global market uncertainties. Growth prospects high in 2016, even though prices of raw materials dropped considerably in the first half of 2015. 13. As a result of an effective coordination of budgetary and monetary policies, inflation, which had attained an annual average rate of 23.4% over the period 2005-2010 eased to 5.1% over the period 2011-2014, thus enhancing the credibility of the national currency and promoting exchange rate stability. Beyond this progress, particular attention must be focused on the issue of diversification of the Congolese economy, as it is still subject to the fluctuations of the world market prices for mining products; this will necessitate loosening up the structural constraints to the development of the private sector and strengthening of economic competitiveness. However, the end of the first half of 2016 and the beginning of the second half, an exchange rate overheating was observed on the market. The parity of the national currency in relation to the US dollar, on the average, rose from 95.000 Congolese to 105,000 Congolese francs for 100$ US, i.e. an increase of close to11%. This situation certainly destabilized the budgets of many people, in particular those of public servants whose salaries are not indexed to the rate of the US dollar. 14. On the social front, the DRC has since the year 2000, addressed the challenge of alleviating poverty by implementing the MDGs which have now been replaced by the SDGs. Considerable progress has 5