Presidents Lourenço and Tshisekedi discuss security situation in east DRC

Angolan President Joao Lourenco on Saturday hosted his counterpart Felix Tshisekedi in Luanda for a three-hour private meeting on the security situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The meeting was held a day after the Angolan parliament approved a one-year deployment of up to 500 troops to the DRC following a mediated ceasefire between M23 rebels and DRC government troops in Luanda.

With regard to the meeting between the presidents, it was a very positive meeting, as it resulted in the confirmation of the commitment of the DRC, Angolan Minister of State and General Francisco Furtado to create conditions for the quartering areas for the Angolan troops to be deployed Hui. Said.

As far as the situation on the ground is concerned, General Furtado said that the DRC government is still concerned about the need for all parties–DRC, Rwanda and M23– to join in the observance of the cessation of hostilities.

“Practically, there is a halt to hostilities on the ground, but this halt must be complete, avoiding the movement of forces from one side to the other,” General Furtado told reporters after a meeting between Presidents Lourenco and Tshisekedi in Luanda on Saturday. Said to.

President Joao Lourenco, who is also the chair of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), is hosting the DRC, Rwanda crisis apart from Felix Tshisekedi, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi.

He hosted his counterparts as the African Union’s mediator in the conflict.

In November, the Luanda Roadmap was developed and it calls on both the DRC and Rwanda to respect each other’s territorial integrity and to stop supporting the insurgents.

Fighting resumed in late 2021 when the M23 accused Kinshasa of ignoring promises to arm its fighters.

The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting the group, which Kigali denies.

Earlier this month, the UN said renewed violent clashes between non-state armed groups and government forces have sparked the latest emergency, forcing 300,000 people to flee their homes in North Kivu province in February alone. Had to happen

Another 20,000 fled at the start of the week and around 50,000 were displaced from the Kichanga region in the Masisi region during the week to 17 February, according to the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR.

A resurgence of violence in eastern DRC has displaced more than 800,000 people since March last year, including in South Kivu and Ituri provinces.

More than 130 armed groups operate along the border between the DRC and Rwanda, including the M23 militia, which has in the past targeted government forces, and MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the country.

UN figures show a resurgence of violence in the region, which includes South Kivu and Ituri provinces, has displaced more than 800,000 people since March last year.