Luanda - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) gave, this Saturday, in Luanda, a mandate to its acting chairman, João Lourenço, and the organization's Troika, to intensify diplomatic efforts between the DRC and Rwanda to achieve lasting peace.
The decision is expressed in the Final Communiqué of the Extraordinary SADC Summit on the security situation in eastern DRC, which took place in the Angolan capital, Luanda.
The Troika of the SADC Political, Defence and Security Cooperation Body, led by Zambia's Head of State, Hakainde Hichilema, is made up of Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia.
The Summit also issued strategic guidelines on the deployment of the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), to restore peace and security in this country.
In this regard, the Summit commended the member states that presented proposals to contribute additional resources for the SAMIDRC deployment.
The Extraordinary Summit expressed concern about the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation prevailing in eastern DRC and reports of resumption of attacks and occupation of parts of the territory by the M23, "in a clear violation of the ceasefire".
SADC Peace Fund
On the other hand, the summit reiterated the need for SADC to lead efforts to mobilize resources to promote peace and security in the region.
These efforts, according to the statement, include resuming discussions aimed at establishing and making the SADC Peace Fund operational, with the participation of international cooperation partners.
The meeting also received an update on the elections held in member states and took note of the report of the SADC Electoral Observation Mission on the Harmonized Elections in Zimbabwe in August 2023 and the General Elections held in the Kingdom of Eswatini in September 2023.
The meeting wished Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo peaceful and successful elections, scheduled for November and December this year, respectively.
In this regard, the summit reiterated SADC's support through the deployment of the organization's Electoral Observation Mission.
It also reiterated the urgent need for all parties involved, in particular political parties with parliamentary seats in Lesotho, to ensure that the reform process is implemented in the interests of political, economic stability and national security.
The Extraordinary SADC Summit praised the efforts undertaken by the Angolan President, João Lourenço, as champion designated by the African Union (AU) for the search for peace in the region.
Likewise, he congratulated the President of Zambia and the SADC Political, Defence and Security Cooperation Body, Hakainde Hichilema, "for his leadership in maintaining lasting peace and security in the region".
The SADC Chairperson, President João Lourenço, expressed his gratitude to all Heads of State and Government for their participation in the Extraordinary Luanda Summit and for their unwavering commitment to peace, security and development in Southern Africa.
In addition to the host statesman, the event was attended by the Heads of State of the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi, of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, and of Zimbabwe, Emerson Mnangagwa.
The Kingdom of Lesotho was represented by Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane, Namibia by its Vice-President, Nangolo Mbumba, and Botswana and Mozambique by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, respectively Lemogane Kwape and Verónica Macamo.
SADC Is made up of 16 members states, namely, Angola, Botswana, Comoros, DRC, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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