![]() “The current crisis shows that much still remains to be done,” he warned, adding that the ongoing violence is threatening the stability of the entire Great Lakes region. Since the resurgence of the M23 armed group in the DRC in 2021, more than 500,000 people have fled the violence, he said, also raising concerns about the current “extremely worrisome” security situation in Ituri province. “It is time to end the violence,” Guterres said at the high-level meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region, held in Bujumbura, Burundi, this past weekend. ![]() UPDF soldiers were recently deployed in DRC to stabilise the regionĪt a time when more than 100 armed groups are plaguing communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with grave human rights violations and sexual violence, the UN chief said on Saturday that swift, bolstered efforts must end the chronic cycle of conflict in the natural resource-rich Great Lakes region of Africa. The South African leaders also approved a “SADC Common Position to have a more coordinated approach, given the multiple deployments under multilateral and bilateral arrangements in the Eastern DRC, and urged the Government of the DRC to put in place the necessary conditions and measures for effective coordination amongst sub-regional forces and bilateral partners operating in the DRC.” The Summit also “reiterated SADC’s unwavering support in the fight against Armed Groups in the Eastern DRC to pave the way for sustainable peace, security, and prosperity for the people of the DRC and the SADC region as a whole.” The leaders also called for “immediate regional support to the Government of the DRC to address the prevailing security situation in the Eastern DRC, ahead of the national elections scheduled to be held in December 2023.” While M23 has left several positions, the armed movement continues to occupy strategic areas in eastern Congo. ![]() The Summit also reiterated its call for “immediate cessation of hostilities by all Armed Groups and unconditional withdrawal” from the current occupied areas. Others include Stephen Katuka, High Commissioner of Zambia to Namibia, representing President Hakainde Hichilema, who has been in London.ĭuring the Summit, South African leaders said they “noted with great concern the unstable and deteriorating security situation prevailing in the Eastern DRC and reiterated strong condemnation of the upsurge of conflicts and activities of Armed Groups (IAGs) including the resurgence of M23 rebels in the DRC.” Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of Malawi.įormer East Africa Community Regional Force Commander, Maj Gen Jeff Nyagah (L) meeting President Tshisekedi in 2022 Harry Mkandawire, Minister of Defence of Malawi, representing Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan Angola’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Téte António, representing President João Lourenço, the Incoming Chairperson of SADC and Hon. The Summit was attended by several SADC Heads of States, including South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa Tshisekedi Tanzania’s President, Dr. Geingob, President of Namibia, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The deployment of the FIB to help the DRC combat M23 forces could be a game changer for Tshisekedi, who is facing a presidential election later this year. Under pressure to deliver on his campaign promises to restore peace and security in eastern DRC, Tshisekedi has been flying in the region to mobilise a new force to help him deal with m23 rebels.īefore flying to Namibia on Sunday, Tshisekedi had just attended a meeting of regional leaders and UN Secretary General, Antonia Guterres, where he accused Rwanda of helping M23 destabilize the DRC. The East African leaders recently deployed a regional force in eastern DRC to protect civilians and create a conducive atmosphere for M23 to hold talks with President Felix Thisekedi’s government.īut Tshisekedi dismissed the regional force as impotent and unable to confront the M23 rebels.
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