Regional
EAC leaders set roadmap for DRC pacification process, agree to establish joint force
![image](webadmin/images/FQ4NUA1WQAYdjR7.jpg-20220422090820000000.jpg)
The Mini-Summit was chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta. President Kagame was represented by Minister Biruta.
Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) have set
forth the roadmap towards the full restoration of peace and security in the
eastern part of the bloc’s newest member, the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC).
A mini peace summit convened by President Uhuru
Kenyatta, the current chair of the EAC, in Nairobi, brought together Presidents
Félix Antoine Tshisekedi of DRC, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Maj. Gen
Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi.
President Paul Kagame was represented by the Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta, at the summit which
focused on the security situation in eastern DRC and the region in
general.
A communique released at the end of the meeting
indicated that the leaders took note of the situation in eastern DRC and of
neighbouring countries.
It indicated that after fruitful discussions, held in
a frank and cordial environment, and in order to promote peace, stability and
development in the eastern DRC and the greater East African Region, the leaders
also agreed to invite other leaders of the East African Community to join the
conclave and to engage them in future sittings.
The leaders agreed to “welcome the participation, in
an observer status, of a representative of the United Nations Secretary
General, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Secretary General of
the ICGLR, the Secretary General of the East African Community, as and when
called upon to participate by the DRC,”
They also agreed to “welcome bilateral interlocutors
such the United States and France in an observer status” while a special envoy
to follow up on the process was appointed while the leaders also committed to
progress the work of the meeting along two tracks- the political track overseen
by President Kenyatta.
President Ndayishimiye attended a regional meeting for the first time.
“The meeting agreed that a political process be
commenced under the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya to
facilitate consultations to be undertaken between the DRC and local armed
groups in the DRC,”
“Further to the outcome of the first Heads of State
Conclave, the meeting recalled that a consultative dialogue between the
President of the DRC and the representatives of local armed groups in the DRC
is to take place at the earliest possible time,”
The meeting was informed that the President of the DRC
will chair such a consultative meeting on Friday, 22nd April, 2022.
President Kenyatta graciously agreed to host and
provide logistical support for the consultations in Nairobi. The meeting
further agreed that the President of the DRC would subsequently inform his
colleagues of the outcome of the consultations at the next sitting.
The leaders agreed to accelerate the establishment of
a regional force to help contain and, where necessary, fight the negative
forces and the meeting directed the urgent deployment of such a force.
“The meeting directed that planning for such a force
commence with immediate effect with the full consultation of relevant
authorities in the region,”
The meeting agreed to follow up on the implementation
of the political and military and security enforcement tracks. The leaders also
directed that all armed groups in the DRC participate unconditionally in the
political process to resolve their grievances.
President Uhuru and President Tshisekedi.
“That failure to do so, All Congolese Armed groups
would be considered as negative forces and handled militarily by the region,”
the meeting agreed, adding that all foreign armed groups in the DRC must disarm
and return unconditionally and immediately to their respective countries of
origin.
“That failure to do so these groups would be
considered as negative forces and handled militarily by the region,” the
communique reads. The EAC leaders also agreed that the establishment of the
regional force to fight the negative forces should commence immediately under
the leadership of the DRC.
“The leaders resolved to meet within one month to
evaluate progress on the implementation of work,” it adds.
President Uhuru and President Museveni.
Source:
www.ktpress.rw