The East African Community (EAC) Heads of State have agreed to form a regional force that will help to contain and where necessary fight negative forces within the region.
The resolution was reached during the Second Regional Heads of State Conclave on the Democratic Republic of Congo convened in Nairobi, Kenya on Thursday 21st April, 2022.
The Conclave, hosted by His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, was attended by His Excellency Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo; His Excellency Évariste Ndayishimiye , President of the Republic of Burundi; His Excellency Yoweri Museveni , President of the Republic of Uganda, and His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda who was represented by the Rwandan Foreign Minister.
A communique released after the private meeting, stated that the heads of state directed the formation and urgent deployment of a regional armed force that would be partly used to fully restore peace and security in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo;- newest member of the EAC.
They also disclosed that the regional force will be under the leadership of DRC.
“Towards this end, the meeting directed that planning for such a force commence with immediate effect with the full consultation of relevant authorities in the region,” the leaders who took note of the security situation in eastern DRC and of neighbouring countries agreed, according to the communique.
The Presidents also resolved that 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.
“All foreign armed groups in the DRC must disarm and return unconditionally and immediately to their respective countries of origin. That failure to do so these groups would be considered as negative forces and handled militarily by the region.”
The leaders also agreed that a political process be commenced under the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya to facilitate consultations to be undertaken between the DRC and local armed groups in the DRC.
“Further to the outcome of the first Heads of State Conclave, the meeting recalled that a consultative dialogue between the President of the DRC and the representatives of local armed groups in the DRC is to take place at the earliest possible time.Consequently, the meeting was informed that the President of the DRC will chair such a consultative meeting on Friday, 22nd April, 2022. President Uhuru Kenyatta graciously agreed to host and provide logistical support for the consultations in Nairobi. 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.”
On the other hand, the heads of state also agreed to invite other leaders of the East African Community to join the Conclave e and to engage them in future sittings.
“We shall welcome the participation, in an observer status, of a representative of the United Nations Secretary General, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Secretary General of the ICGLR, the Secretary General of the East African Community, as and when called upon to participate by the DRC.To also WELCOME bilateral interlocutors such the United States and France in an observer status,”the leaders noted.
“A Secretariat will be formed to oversee the implementation of the agreements arrived at the meeting. The Secretariat will be administered by the Special Envoy in the Office of the President of the DRC, and the Special Envoy in the Office of the President of Kenya (the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya is designated to play this role ad interim) with the participation of representatives from the Executive Offices of the other Heads of State of the East African Community.”
The leaders further resolved that they will meet again within one month to evaluate progress on the implementation of work.
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