Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Friday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as peace, security and sustainable development of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to a press release, the support was expressed during the meeting of the heads of the organization’s diplomatic corps in the Tanzanian capital to discuss the political and security situation in the east of the DRC.
The participants called for an immediate cease-fire and an unconditional cessation of all hostilities in order to protect human lives and create the conditions for the immediate withdrawal of the M23 and the RDF, the provision of humanitarian assistance, including the repatriation of the dead and the evacuation of the wounded.
They also reaffirmed SADC’s support to the DRC government through the deployment of SAMIDRC until the end of its mandate, including its freedom of movement and the exercise of the right of self-defense in accordance with international law, as well as collective security in accordance with the organization’s mutual defense pact.
It also called for the opening of the main supply routes, including Goma-Sake-Bukavu, Goma-Kibumba-Rumangabo-Kalengera-Rutshuru-Bunangana and Goma-Kiwanja-Rwindi-Kanyabayonga-Lubero, including navigation on Lake Kivu between Goma and Bukavu, as well as the immediate reopening of the local airport and the immediate restoration of public services.
The meeting also recommended the convening of a joint meeting of the chiefs of staff of the SADC and East African Community (EAC) armed forces to provide technical guidance on the ceasefire and end of hostilities.
Finally, they called on the AU to urgently convene a second quadripartite summit on the security situation in the DRC and to mandate the two communities to initiate contacts for its convening.
Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, eSwatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe are members of the organization.
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