Luanda – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda agreed Tuesday, in Luanda capital city of Angola, to the creation of mechanisms that allow the normalisation of the bilateral relationship after its deterioration due to the crisis in the eastern area of the Congolese territory.
The decision was made during the meeting of both countries Permanent Joint Commission (PJC) that took place on 20-21 July under the mediation of Angola in the scope of the recommendation of the Roadmap adopted in Tripartite Summit between the Heads of State of Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
The delegations were led by Christophe Lutundula Apala Pen'Apala, Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of DRC and Vincent Biruta, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda under the mediation of Téte António, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola.
In this context, the parties agreed to address the Roadmap objectives including the restoration of an atmosphere of trust between both countries and the creation of conditions for dialogue and political consultations with a view to resolving the security crisis.
Regarding the cessation of hostilities by M23 and its immediate withdrawal, as well as the eradication of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and its armed wing, the Forces Combattantes Abacunguzi (FOCA) and its splinter groups, they called for a rapid deployment of the Regional Force within the framework of the Nairobi process.
For that reason, the officials appealed for major envolvement of the mediator to achieve this objective in short term, by committing to working to restore mutual trust.
As for the verification of accusations between the parties, the Permanent Joint Commission agreed to placing this portfolio under the responsibility of an Angolan general officer.
For this fact, they asked the the mediator, the Angolan Head of State João Lourenço, to appoint the general officer in question.
The general officer should be assisted by a team of Angolan observers and liaison officers appointed by each party.
The parties also decided to guarantee conditions of security, transport and access to the places in question by the members of the mission in their respective territories.
On trade and economic partnership issues and the management of common borders, they expressed their commitment to on-going peace efforts.
They decided as well to organise meetings between the prominent trade and migration institutions of both countries.
As for the refugees situation, the officials agreed on updating the tripartite agreement between the Republic of Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of 17 February 2010, signed in Kigali, taking into account the evolution of the context and the realities on the ground.
The new crisis between DRC and Rwanda, members of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), started on 27 May this year when DRC accused Rwanda of supporting the rebel group M23 which has resurfaced in North Kivu Province in the Eastern side of DRC.
However, the Angolan Head of State as the Chairman of ICGLR has been in regular contact with his counterparts of DRC and Rwanda searching for consensus and trying to avoid a major armed conflict in the region.
Besides Angola and the DRC, the ICGLR is made up of Burundi, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic (CAR), Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The organisation was created with the aim of resolving peace and security issues following the political conflicts that ravaged the region in 1994.
