Luanda - The second ministerial meeting in the quest for peace and security in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo takes place Tuesday and Wednesday in Angolan capital, Luanda, with the participation of the warring parties under the mediation of the host country.
The meeting aims to give substance to the ceasefire agreement that has been in force since August 4 signed in Luanda by the foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda.
The meeting follows a recent trip by the Angolan president, João Lourenço, as the African Union's designated mediator, to Kigali and Kinshasa on August 11 and 12 respectively.
On that occasion, the Head of State handed over a Proposal for a Peace Agreement to Presidents Paul Kagame and Félix Tshisekedi.
The meeting in Luanda is expected to essentially address the lasting peace proposal submitted to the parties, with a view to reaching a common understanding through a negotiable peaceful solution to the prevailing conflict in the eastern region of the DRC, which has worsened since the end of 2023.
In his speech at the 44th SADC Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe, President João Lourenço said the conflict in the east of the DRC is a challenge that has been faced, with encouraging prospects.
‘Taking into account the understandings reached on the ceasefire in that region between the Republic of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in force since August 4, we will work towards taking concrete steps negotiating and signing a definitive peace agreement,’ Lourenço said.
On the occasion, João Lourenço added that Angola, in its role as mediator, submitted a draft peace agreement to Rwanda and the DRC, which is being considered by both and will begin to be discussed and negotiated between ministerial delegations from the DRC and Rwanda August 20 in Luanda.
Recently, in his inauguration speech, the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, thanked the Angolan statesman for the efforts he has made to pacify the east of the DRC, whose crisis has affected relations between the two neighboring countries.
‘I would like to take a moment to thank the Presidents of Angola, João Lourenço, Kenya, William Ruto, among others, for everything they have done and continue to do for peace in the east of the DRC,’ Kagame said.
This is not the first proposal the country has put forward for the pacification of the eastern DRC. Prior to this, it suggested the Luanda Roadmap, a document that points the way to pacification in the east of the DRC.
The conflict in eastern DRC, which has plagued the region since 2022, is led by forces of the M23 rebel movement, who have allegedly been supported by Rwandan government forces.
The attacks, which resumed in December 2023, target civilian populations, as well as human rights violations, including the occupation of several areas on Congolese territory, that constitutes a clear violation of the Luanda and Nairobi Processes, jeopardizing diplomatic efforts and initiatives for peace and stability in that country. ART/DAN/AMP
