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Fungi Kwaramba recently in DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania

Chiefs of Defence Forces (CDFs) from SADC and the East Africa Community (EAC) have been given five days to provide technical direction that will ensure immediate ceasefire enforcement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), facilitate humanitarian aid and develop a security plan for Goma and surrounding areas.

At the same time, African countries that were backing rebels in the DRC were also directed to immediately leave to give the people of the vast and resource-endowed nation a chance to live in sustainable peace.

Speaking to journalists upon his return from the joint SADC-EAC summit on Saturday night, President Mnangagwa said the meeting underscored the need for regional co-operation in addressing insecurity in the eastern parts of DRC.

He said the two blocs had resolved that no individual country should support armed groups responsible for conflict and displacement in the region.

The summit, co-chaired by President Mnangagwa in his capacity as SADC chairperson and Kenyan President William Ruto as EAC chairperson, focused on strategies to restore peace in the conflict-riddled region.

“Well, it was a joint summit of SADC and East African communities and the main issues were the issues of insecurity in the Eastern DRC,” said the President.

“It was an attempt by the two blocs — SADC and East African Community — to deal with that in security, trying to find ways where the two blocs can help create peace in that region and identify the parties that are involved in the military contestation in the Eastern DRC.”

Despite the complexity of the situation, President Mnangagwa said, consensus was reached that all member States must refrain from supporting or arming any militant groups operating in the region.

“Of course, it was very difficult but in the end, it was resolved that all member States should make sure that they do not support groups, armed groups in the region, to cause insecurity on the continent and in that particular area.

“Of course, no Member State came forward to say they were supporting an army, but it was very clear that these (rebel) groups were actually allowed to operate from a certain Member State.

“It was agreed that everything must be done to silence the guns, and that they (armed groups) should not be rendered any support by any member State.”

In its communiqué, the joint summit directed that modalities for the withdrawal of uninvited foreign armed forces from the territory of the DRC, be developed and implemented by the two regional bodies’ top military officials.

“The joint summit reaffirmed solidarity and unwavering commitment to continue supporting the DRC in its pursuit of safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as sustainable peace, security and development,” read the communiqué in part.

The summit decided that similar consultations shall be convened at least once every year and as and when the need arises to review matters of common interest to the two regions.

Apart from that, the summit directed that a joint meeting of ministers of EAC and SADC convenes within the next 30 days to deliberate on:

(a) the report of the joint meeting of CDFs on the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities

(b) establishment of a secretariat-level technical coordination mechanism to monitor implementation of the joint summit decisions

(c) an elaborate road map detailing immediate, medium- and long-term implementation measures, including financing modalities, and address all other residual issues relating to the attainment of sustainable peace and security in the eastern DRC and make appropriate recommendations to the next joint meeting of the EAC-SADC Summit.

The regional leaders also directed the resumption of direct negotiations with all State and non-State actors, including M23, within the Luanda/Nairobi process framework, while calling for implementation of the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) to neutralise the FDLR and facilitating Rwanda’s disengagement from the DRC.

SADC and the EAC convened Saturday’s joint summit to try and find a lasting solution to the DRC crisis, which has seen rebel groups taking over towns in the eastern parts of the vast country.

Apart from SADC Chairman President Mnangagwa, his EAC Counterpart President Ruto, and the host Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, there was a huge turnout of regional leaders.

DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi, who accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels in his country, attended the joint summit virtually.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa, Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, attended the high-stakes joint summit.

Leaders of Burundi, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan and Madagascar were represented by ministers.

On Saturday President Mnangagwa told his fellow leaders that Africa must draw from its shared historical solidarity and the unity it used to dismantle colonialism to free the people of the DRC from internecine wars and conflict that undermine development.

Addressing the opening session of the joint summit, President Mnangagwa said Africa should not let the people of DRC down but must, through honest dialogue, find a solution to silence the guns and engender enduring peace in the Great Lakes region.

“The unity, solidarity and unbreakable bonds of the peoples of the continent must stand the test of such trying times,” he said.

“We must remain as solidly united as we were during the struggle for the complete emancipation and independence of Africa from colonialism.

“We, thus, have a duty and collective responsibility to comprehensively, frankly, tackle and address the various challenges that are impeding the realisation of peace and security for the people of Eastern DRC.

“Drawing from our rich African values and heritage, and further emboldened by the spirit and letter of the United Nations Charter; the Constitutive Act of the African Union as well as the treaties of both SADC and the EAC; let us seize this opportunity to ensure convergence and a coordinated response which is mutually reinforcing towards one common objective.”

Towards the ultimate objective of finding last peace in the DRC, President Mnangagwa said talks among regional leaders must always be carried with openness, honesty, flexibility and a commitment to building lasting peace.