By Spy Uganda
On Monday, 20th June 2022, East African Heads of States convened in Nairobi, Kenya for a meeting/summit/conclave on the peace and security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The meeting was attended by His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda; His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda; His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan; His Excellency Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of The Head of State of the United Republic of Tanzania was represented by H.E. Amb. Dr. John Steven Simbachawene, High Commissioner of Tanzania to Kenya.
”They appreciated the supremacy of the Constitution of the DRC and committed to maintain a unified and secure country, with coherence and credible institutions of central government exercising full territorial authority and recognizing that peaceful means are the best way to resolve conflicts,” states the communique.
The Heads of State all agreed the deployment of regional force in DRC but instructed that it should in cooperation with the military and administrative forces of the DRC seek to stabilize and secure the peace an in the conflict torn country. The Regional Force will also cooperate in implementation of the disarmament and demobilization process.
”The Regional Force which will be constituted as an East African Community force under the EAC Protocol on Peace and Security and the EAC Treaty Article 124 on regional peace and security and Article 125 on cooperation in The Regional Force received its operational mandate and detailed its operational structure for the Heads of State. In attendance at the brief was the Executive Secretary of the EAC,” reads the communique.
Also, the Heads of State directed that an immediate ceasefire should be enforced and cessation of hostilities should commence immediately, including withdrawal from recently taken positions. ”In doing so, the political process should be intensified by all parties in order to allow the citizens of the DRC feel safe and secure and be able to pick up and continue their respective social, cultural and economic activities.”
”The conclave agreed and reinforced that trust and confidence-building, cessation of hostilities, unconditional ceasefire, participation in the political processes in the country, prioritization and participation in the country’s development, citizenship, presence of foreign negative elements, fate of combatants during reintegration and status of refugees and internally displaced persons are among critical issues that require concerted, urgent and durable resolution,” adds the communique.
TheSpy Uganda has also learnt that Heads of State emphasized that all offensive language, hate speech, threats of genocide and other politically inciting language must cease and must be discouraged by all parties and that the people of the DRC must be encouraged to work together in order to stabilize the eastern DRC for it to prosper.
At the end of the meeting, leaders commended HE.Tshisekedi for taking the regional route in his determination to resolve the peace and security situation in the east of the DRC
