President João Lourenco, the African Union (AU)-appointed mediator for dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda, convened a mini-summit on peace and security in the Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Luanda, November 23, 2022 whose resolution was for a ceasefire in the region.
Present at the meeting were Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, the Rwandan Foreign Minister representing Rwanda President Paul Kagame, and the Facilitator of the Nairobi Process, former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
After more than six hours spent in closed-door discussions, the meeting concluded with a cease-fire for the M23 terrorist group. It will be effective Friday, November 25, 20, 22 at 6:00 pm.
According to an official Communiqué, the agreement also requires the M23 to withdraw from occupied areas in the DRC as of November 27.
The five participants to the mini-summit, which included three current Heads, agreed to a timetable of binding steps to restore peace and security in Eastern DRC. This includes the disarmament, cantonment, and ad hoc verification mechanism of M23 elements that are under the control and control of the FARDC and the EAC regional force.
The final press release of the Luanda mini-summit states: “The intervention of the Regional Force against the M23, in accordance with the requirements of the Nairobi Process and the report of the EAC Heads of State and Government meeting held in Bujumbura on November 8, 2022, in case of refusal by the M23 to cease hostilities and withdraw from the occupied territories.”
The mini-summit demanded that all politicomilitary support be withdrawn from the M23 and all other armed groups in the Eastern DRC.
This release stipulates that the Luanda Process will continue to coordinate at all levels with the Nairobi Process.
The Heads Of State agreed to meet in Bujumbura again to review the implementation of resolutions and recommendations from the Luanda mini summit.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
Source: kenyanews
