The mini-summit held Wednesday in Luanda on the security situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was sanctioned by a roadmap which gives the M23 rebellion deadlines to end its hostilities, according to the final communiqué published at the end of the talks.
The first deadline concerns an « immediate ceasefire » which should be observed from Friday, November 25 at 6 p.m. Subsequently, the rebel movement was called upon to withdraw from the occupied areas and fall back to its initial positions. Three localities in eastern DRC (Bunagan, Rutshuru and Kiwanja) are currently controlled by the M23.
The last gesture demanded of M23 is its disarmament and cantonment, within a week, in the DRC under the control of the Congolese Armed Forces, the regional force and the Ad Hoc verification mechanism with the collaboration of the UN Mission. in the DRC (Monusco).
“If the M23 refuses to disengage and liberate the territories it currently occupies, the Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC) will instruct the regional force to use force to push them to submit”, warns the final press release. The participants in the mini-summit endorsed the “continuation of the full deployment of the regional force” of the EAC decided in June.
The roadmap also calls for « an end to politico-military support for M23 and all local and foreign armed groups operating in eastern DRC », as well as political consultations between the DRC government and the local armed groups, and the resumption of bilateral dialogue between Kinshasa and Kigali.
The mini-summit brought together Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, Burundian President Evariste Ndayshimiye, and Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta, around Angolan leader Joao Lourenço, in his capacity as mediator appointed by the African Union, and the former Kenyan Head of State Uhuru Kenyatta, East African Community Facilitator.
By OMA Newsletter N° 950 of 24/11/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
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