Luanda - The President of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço, on Saturday called on the member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to contribute to the end of the security crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Angolan Head of State, who was speaking at the opening of the SADC Extraordinary Summit on the political and security situation in the DRC, considered the support of the regional organisation necessary in the search for peace, stability and security for the DRC, taking into account the holding of the elections scheduled for December this year in a climate of tranquility.
He said that the achievement of peace and stability will help develop the economy of the DRC, which he considered a giant in the region and on the African continent.
At the summit, SADC Heads of State and Government are reviewing the current situation in the DRC, which has been experiencing a security crisis for several years.
In the closing speech of the 43rd SADC Summit in Luanda, which elected him chairperson of this regional organization, João Lourenço chose the resolution of the security crisis in the DRC as one of the challenges of his mandate, despite the various initiatives already carried out within the framework of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL).
When he assumed the presidency of CIRGL, in November 2020, João Lourenço said that Angola is willing to work, together with other member states of the organization, to respect the peace agreements signed to end the conflict.
As part of Angola's efforts, the Angolan Parliament approved, in March this year, the sending of a military contingent to support and maintain peace in the eastern region of the DRC.
The force is made up of 450 soldiers from the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and its purpose is to support peacekeeping operations and secure the cantonment areas for elements of the M23 rebel in that region.
The Angolan mission initially lasts 12 months and has a cost estimated at more than 4 billion kwanzas.
The decision to send the Angolan military contingent to support peacekeeping operations in the DRC was taken following a proposal by President João Lourenço, made at the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, in February this year, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a clear definition of cantonment areas, financing the process and preparing the areas for the maintenance of M23 forces. FMA/VIC/ADR/DOJ
