Partner States Set up EAC Special Fund as Regional Forces Erect Base in Goma

Partner States Set up EAC Special Fund as Regional Forces Erect Base in Goma

On Monday, the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State held a High-Level Consultative Meeting to address the peace process in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Alongside the United Nations Framework on Climate Change summit, the gathering took place in Shamar El Sheikh, Egypt (COP-27).

H.E. Paul Kagame (Rwanda), H.E. Suluhu Samia (Tanzania), H.E. William Ruto (Kenya), and Rt. Hon. Jean – Michel, who was in attendance on behalf of DRC President H.E. Felix Tshisekedi, were all present at the meeting, which was presided over by Burundian President H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye.

The apology was relayed by South Sudan and Uganda.

According to a joint statement, “EAC is committed on ensuring regional peace and security for the benefit of its people.”

The Heads of State applauded H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta for taking the responsibility of aiding the peace process in the Eastern DRC and for his leadership and work in reviving the peace process, according to the communique.

The summit noted the establishment of the force headquarters of the combined regional force of the EAC in the eastern DRC in Goma and the appointment and assumption of duties of the regional force commander.

Each partner state will station a liaison officer at the force headquarters to assist the regional command center, it was determined at the summit.

The Heads of State praised Burundi, Kenya, and Uganda for their successful deployment of soldiers in accordance with the established framework and urged South Sudan to finish the deployment.

EAC is committed to maintaining regional stability and security for the benefit of its citizens.

The meeting noted the opening of the EAC peace facility to assist the EAC-led Nairobi process and expressed its sincere gratitude to Presidents of Angola, H.E. Joao Lourenco, and Senegal, Macky Sall, for their contributions to the EAC Special Fund for the implementation of the peace process and to the Chairperson of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania were thanked by the heads of state for their commitment to funding the EAC Special Fund for the implementation of the peace process.

The Heads of State discussed recent events in North Kivu, particularly the escalation of violence, and called for an end to hostilities so that political negotiations, which are scheduled to begin on November 16, 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya, can proceed.

For the long-term maintenance of peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Heads of State emphasized the necessity of coordination and the building of synergy between the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) and the EAC regional force.

They also decided to choose a technical advisor from each partner nation to assist the EAC peace process facilitator.