ICGLR ponders crisis on Eastern Congo DRC; issues Declaration

President Museveni of Uganda chairing the ICGLR Extraordinary Summit on the security situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The two-day meeting was held from August 7 to 8, 2012 at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort in Kampala, Uganda. (Photo by Kennedy Oryema, New Vision Newspaper - Uganda).

By TAGIE DAISY MWAKAWAGO

Kampala, Uganda

The Heads of State and Government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), on August 8 issued a Declaration on the security situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in an effort to discuss and find ways to restore peace and security in that region. The ICGLR Extraordinary Meeting was held at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort in Kampala, Uganda from August 7 to 8, 2012.

Led by H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda as the Chairperson of the ICGLR, the Member States reaffirmed their commitments to the ICGLR Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region of 15th of December, 2006 and its related protocol. In addition, they also recalled their Declaration of 15th July, 2012 on the security situation in Eastern DRC made at the Addis Ababa Extraordinary Summit as a result of M23 attack.

During this Summit, the ICGLR Heads of State considered the Report of the preceded meetings of the Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee (RIMC) and of the ICGLR Ministers of Defence from August 5 to 6, 2012 at Serena Hotel in Kampala, whereby Hon. Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, Tanzania Minister of Defence and National Services also participated.

In essence, the meetings discussed at length the security measures and humanitarian situation in the Eastern DRC due to the armed activities of the M23 Movement. The Member States have called upon the International Communities to provide humanitarian aid and they have set up a trust fund in support of victims of the humanitarian crisis in Eastern DRC and neighbouring countries. The Government of Uganda has already contributed 1,000,000 US Dollars towards said Trust Fund.

In this Extraordinary Meeting, the Heads of State pledged to undertake immediate efforts to ensure that there is a complete halt to fighting in Eastern Democratic of Congo and that peace, security, stability and development are restored. In that effort, a Sub-Committee has been formed by the Ministers of Defence from seven Member States that includes Angola, Burundi, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.

The sub-Committee will be chaired by the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Uganda and is assigned to propose urgent actionable steps to bring peace, security and stability in the region and ensure that fighting stops completely. The sub-Committee has been given one month to complete its report and submit it to the Regional Leaders.

The ICGLR Extraordinary Summit was also attended by Tanzania’s President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and Minister of Defence Hon. Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, President Joseph Kabila Kabange of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the President of Central African Republic, Minister of Home Affairs on behalf of President of Zambia, Kenya Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Sudan Vice President Dr. El-Haj Adam Yousuf and Angola’s Foreign Affairs Minister George Chicoti.

Other representation was from the United Nations Special Representative for Central Africa, Mr. Abou Moussa and the AU Chairperson’s Special Representative to LRA affected areas, Mr. Francisco Madeira.