Five African countries on Thursday resolved to deploy a regional force to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to fight a rebel insurgency in the country
Five African countries on Thursday resolved to deploy a regional force to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to fight a rebel insurgency in the country.
The presidents from Kenya, Burundi, Uganda, DRC, and Rwanda who met in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya for the second regional Heads of State conclave, directed that planning for such a force commence with immediate effect with the full consultation of relevant authorities in the region.
The eastern part of the DRC has been troubled for decades by multiple militia groups, in particular rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and those of the March 23 Movement (M23), common nightmare for countries in the region.
The presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, Felix Tshisekedi of DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda represented by foreign minister, directed all armed groups in the DRC participate unconditionally in the political process to resolve their grievances.
“That failure to do so, all Congolese armed groups would be considered as negative forces and handled militarily by the region,” the leaders warned in a communique released at the end of the day-long meeting.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group linked to ISIL (ISIS), is considered the deadliest of dozens of armed militias that roam the mineral-rich eastern DRC.
The leaders who took note of the situation in eastern DRC and of neighboring countries called on all foreign armed groups inside the DRC to disarm and return unconditionally and immediately to their respective countries.
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The meeting noted that a consultative dialogue between the president of the DRC Felix Tshisekedi and the representatives of local armed groups in the DRC is to take place at the earliest possible time.
The meeting thus agreed that the DRC president will chair such a consultative meeting on Friday in Nairobi and that the Kenyan president agreed to host and provide logistical support for the consultations.
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.
Talks With militia
President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi will chair Friday in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, a consultative meeting with the local militia groups in DRC, confirmed by the DRC president’s office.
The decision was made at a mini peace summit, which brought together several Heads of States from the East African Community (EAC) Thursday in Nairobi, according to the DRC president’s office, adding that Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta will provide logistical support for the consultations Friday.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta hosted Thursday the mini peace summit with Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of DRC, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi over the insecurity caused by militia groups in the region and especially eastern DRC.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Vincent Biruta, represented President Paul Kagame at the summit.
The eastern part of the DRC has been troubled for decades by multiple militia groups, in particular rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and those of the March 23 Movement (M23), common nightmare for countries in the region.