BY MBONO MDLULI
SIKHUPHE – Heads of State and Government in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) want peace to be restored in DRC.
This was said today by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla at King Mswati III International Airport in Sikhuphe. Dladla was arriving in the country from the SADC Extraordinary Summit, which took place in Zimbabwe.
Dladla was part of the meeting, having gone there to represent His Majesty King Mswati III and the Eswatini nation. Dladla said the main item on the agenda was the unrest that took place in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The DPM said SADC was briefed about the situation in DRC, and it was found that there was no peace in that country, as the M23 rebels had taken control of Goma and Kivu in the eastern DRC. What also transpired was that there were SADC troops that were sent to that place to restore peace.
However, they encountered challenges, as some of them were killed, with some being wounded. Dladla said what was also problematic was that supplies of basic commodities such as water and electricity were cut in that town and surrounding areas.
This development, according to Dladla, was unfortunate because people in those areas had to encounter many inconveniences, especially the troops, as they needed the services the most during this time.
Summit received the latest reports on the unfoldingalso disturbed, as people could not make phone calls to their local and distant relatives. The soldiers came from countries such as South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi.
Dladla said the SADC leaders resolved that there should be no gunfire in that region and all the basic necessities should be restored. This would be done so that peace talks could continue so that sustainable development could be realised by the people of that region.
According to the SADC website, Summit received the latest reports on the unfolding security situation in the Eastern part of the DRC and noted with concern the recent attacks by the M23 armed group and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) on the Government Forces of DRC, the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), and the civilian population in various areas of North Kivu.
The troops were deployed by SADC in May 2023 to that area to facilitate peace. The SADC Summit condemned the actions by M23 and RDF. The leaders expressed condolences to the families of all the deceased in DRC , South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi.
Summit mandated the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, to engage all state and non-state parties to the conflict on a ceasefire process to protect lives and facilitate a smooth flow of humanitarian support to people and communities affected by the armed conflict.
Communication was Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government, or their representatives:
Zimbabwe: H.E. President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
Botswana: President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko
Democratic Republic of Congo:
H.E. President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo
Madagascar: H.E. President Andry Rajoelina
Mozambique: H.E. President Daniel Francisco Chapo
South Africa: H.E. President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa
United Republic of Tanzania: Her Excellency President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan
Zambia H.E. President Hakainde Hichilema
Lesotho: The Right Honourable Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, the Prime Minister
Eswatini Hon. Thulisile Dladla, Deputy Prime Minister
Angola: H.E. Ambassador Téte António, Minister of External Relations
Malawi: Hon. Nancy Gladys Tembo, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Namibia: Hon. Frans Kapofi, Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs
