BUJUMBURA February 7th (ABP) – The Heads of State of the member countries of the East African Community of Africa (EAC) condemn in the strongest terms the fighting that continues in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and recommend the immediate cessation of fighting to return to the negotiating table, according to the press release which came from the 20th extraordinary summit of Heads of State held, behind closed doors, on Saturday February 4, 2023, in Bujumbura.
The said summit was attended by the Congolese President, Antoine Tshisekedi Tchilombo, Rwandan President Paul Kagame; Kenyan President William Ruto; the Tanzanian President Samia Suluh; Ugandan President Yoweli Kaguta Museveni and the current Chairman of the EAC and Burundi Head of State, Evariste Ndayishimiye.
According to that press release, the Heads of State received and analyzed two reports, namely the report of the facilitator of the region regarding the crisis in the DRC and that of the commander of the EAC Force deployed in the east of the DRC. The Heads of State noted bitterly that the situation continues to deteriorate in that region, from which they demanded an immediate cessation of fighting.
According to that press release read by the executive secretary of the EAC, Peter Matuki, an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of the fighters is in order and the chiefs of staff of the respective armies must meet within time not exceeding a week in order to specify a plan for the withdrawal of fighters and the deployment of the regional force. That process must be accompanied by dialogue. For those East African Heads of State, the crisis raging in eastern DRC is a major concern for the entire region where each Member State must bring its cornerstone to the building.
For all intents and purposes, they believe that the political option must be a priority in order to find an effective and durable solution to that crisis.