African Union Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in DR Congo, Slams Somalia Bombing that Killed 100 Civilians

October 30th, 2022, Addis Abeba: President Macky Sall of Senegal, who is currently chair of the African Union, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, chair of the African Union Commission, have both expressed their deep worry over the deteriorating security situation in the Eastern regions of the DRC.

They urged all parties to immediately halt hostilities, uphold international law, ensure the safety of civilians, and maintain peace along the region’s borders.

They urged all parties to participate in productive engagement within the frameworks already in place, including the Inter-Congolese Peace Dialogue of the East African Community and the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and Region of the African Union.

According to a joint statement released by the African Union on Sunday, “In this regard, they call all the parties to engage in good faith at the third Inter-Congolese peace dialogue in Nairobi from November 4 to 13 2022.”

They emphasized that the AU, EAC, and ICGLR actions are complimentary and reinforce one another as they voiced their full support for the Luanda Roadmap, which aims to normalize the political relations between the DRC and Rwanda.

The two leaders supported President J. Lorenço in his task of facilitating a fruitful discussion between the two kin nations of Rwanda and the DRC.

The DR Congo government said on Saturday that it was removing Kigali’s representative, Vincent Karega, due to what it claimed was Rwanda’s support for the M23 rebels who were reportedly making further inroads in the nation’s east.

On Sunday, Rwanda, which rejects the charge, expressed disappointment over the choice and added that its forces at the border between the two nations were on “high alert.”

Bombing in Mogadishu

In the meantime, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, has vehemently denounced the awful terrorist attack that left more than 100 innocent civilians dead and several more injured in Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 29, 2022.

On October 29, 2022, security personnel and rescuers are pictured standing by a dead body at the scene of a double car bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia. (VOA photo)

The Chairperson sent the relatives of the deceased the sincere condolences of the African Union and wished the injured a fast recovery.

He expressed the AU’s support for the Somalian government and people at this trying moment.

The Chairperson emphasized the African Union’s ongoing commitment to assisting the Somali government and people in their efforts to bring about long-term peace and security in the nation, especially through the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

In order to consolidate the significant security advances made in recent years, the Chairperson reaffirmed his plea to the international community to step up efforts to secure strong international support for Somalia’s institutions in their fight against terrorist organizations.

The two vehicle bombings left close to 300 people injured and 100 dead, according to Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who also pleaded with the international community to provide medical personnel and materials to assist the victims.

Mohamud urged the public to visit the hospitals and donate blood for those who had been hurt in the attack, and he promised to provide free education for the kids of both those slain in Saturday’s bombings and prior al-Shabab attacks who had passed away.