Luanda - The deadline for the cessation of hostilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly the attacks waged by the M23 rebels ends Friday at 6:00 pm of the local time.
The decisions emerged from the recent mini-summit held in Luanda on the security situation in the DRC, which called on all armed groups operating in the eastern region of the country to cease their hostilities, in general, and in particular the attacks by the M23.
After ceasing their attacks against the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and the UN Mission in the country (MONUSCO), the rebels of the March 23 Movement (M23) should also withdraw unconditionally from occupied positions.
In event of refusal, the member States of the East African Community (EAC) will resort to the use of force to induce" their surrender, said the final communiqué emerged from the meeting held in the Angolan capital, Luanda.
The meeting held on the initiative of the Angolan President, João Lourenço, as mediator of the African Union (AU), also decided to continue the full deployment of the EAC Regional Force in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.
The mini-summit also determined to cease all political-military support for M23 and all other local and foreign armed groups operating in eastern DRC and the region, including the FDLR-FOCA, RED-TABARA, ADF and others.
They should immediately lay down their arms and begin their unconditional repatriation, states the communique.
Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) is a Rwandan rebel group based in eastern DRC, like those in Burundian RED-TABARA (Resistance for a Rule of Law in Burundi) and Ugandan ADF (Allied Democratic Forces).
Five days after the end of hostilities, the disarmament and cantonment of the M23 will begin on Congolese territory under the control of the FARDC, the Regional Force and the Ad hoc Verification Mechanism of the Luanda Peace Roadmap with the collaboration of MONUSCO.
Angolan President João Lourenço and his counterparts from DRC and Burundi, respectively Félix Antoine Tshisékédi and Évariste Ndayishimiye signed the document adopted at Luanda mini-summit.
Also signing the final communiqué were the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Vincent Biruta, in representation of the head of state of Rwanda, Paul Kagamé, and the former Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta.
The latter participated in the meeting as the EAC's designated facilitator for the implementation of the Nairobi Process for peace in eastern DRC.
Attended the meeting as guests, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission Michelle Ndiaye, the Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Joao Samuel Caholo, and the Commander of the Ad hoc Verification Mechanism of the Luanda Roadmap, Lt. General Nassone João.
The heads of state also decided to convene a new mini-summit soon to take place in Bujumbura, Burundi, to assess the implementation of the decisions made, according to the final communiqué.
