E.A Community leaders meet in Egypt to discuss security in DR Congo

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt

The presidents of Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda as well as the prime minister of the DR Congo have had a High-Level consultative meeting in Egypt to discuss the security situation in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The meeting was held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on the side-lines of the meeting of United Nations framework on Climate Change (COP-27).

The talks led by the current Chairman of the East African Community, President of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye, comes after his talks with the mediator in the process of peace talks in eastern Congo held in Bujumbura last week.

The mediator in that capacity is the former president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta.

Tensions have mounted as the M23 rebels have advanced in recent weeks, seizing several key towns in the eastern DR Congo including Kiwanja.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels who recently captured some areas in eastern Congo and expelled the Rwandan ambassador about a week ago, while Rwanda accuses the DRC of supporting a group of Rwanda fighters of the FDLR, who are accused of carrying out attacks in areas close to the border inside Rwanda. Each side denies the allegations.

On Monday, Rwanda accused the DRC of sending its military aircraft into Rwanda and condemned the act as an act of aggression. The DRC admitted to importing the plane, but said it had no malicious intent.

Representatives from the two countries met over the weekend in Angola where they agreed to “maintain dialogue.” Other peace talks are expected to resume in Kenya next week. However, Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said representatives of M23 will not be allowed to take part unless conditions are met.

Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya have sent their forces to eastern Congo to deal with the rebel groups that have been destabilizing security in the area for nearly three decades.