Africa-Press – Angola. The Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) analyze, this Saturday, in the Angolan capital, Luanda, the security situation in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
At the Extraordinary SADC Summit, the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, participates as leader of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.
At this meeting, the SADC Heads of State and Government will review the current situation in the DRC which, in December this year, will hold general elections.
The East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been experiencing this security crisis for several years.
Remember that, in the closing speech of the 43rd SADC Summit in Luanda, which made him acting president of the regional organization, João Lourenço chose the resolution of the security crisis in that region of the DRC as one of the challenges of his presidency, despite the various initiatives already carried out within the framework of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL).
After assuming the presidency of CIRGL, in November 2020, João Lourenço highlighted, in his speech, that Angola is willing to work, together with other Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, to respect the agreements peace existing in the region.
As part of Angola’s efforts, the Angolan Parliament approved, in March this year, the sending of a support and peacekeeping contingent to that eastern region of the DRC.
The contingent is made up of 450 soldiers from the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and its purpose is to support peacekeeping operations, as well as guarantee the security of the M23 cantonment areas in that region.
This mission initially lasts 12 months and has an estimated cost of more than 4 billion kwanzas.
The announcement of sending the Angolan contingent unit to support peacekeeping operations in the DRC came after President João Lourenço proposed, in February this year, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the clear definition of cantonment areas, funding for process and preparation of areas for the maintenance of M23 forces.
Before the Extraordinary Summit, the mini Summit of the SADC Troika body made up of Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia is taking place at one of the hotels in the Angolan capital.
The meeting, which took place behind closed doors, was opened by the President of the Republic of Zambia and current President of the SADC Organ for Cooperation in the Areas of Politics, Defense and Security, Hakainde Hichilema.
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