"We cannot fail to recognize that the situation remains tense, but the fact that a ceasefire is in operation, whose validity must be encouraged, gives us some hope that it will be possible to define a negotiating framework that will lead us to an effective and lasting peace, an antechamber for the transition of power to a civil government that emanates from the will of the people at the polls", said João Lourenço about the situation in Sudan.
The head of state underlined the "intricate conflict" in the country, with "dramatic consequences at the regional humanitarian, economic and security levels", adding that in his role as regional mediator he spoke with Adbel Fattah Al-Burhan, President of the Sovereign Council of Transition of Sudan, to analyze the situation and call for dialogue between the parties.
The head of state was speaking at the extraordinary summit of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL), which took place in Luanda, dedicated to analyzing the evolution of the security situation in the DRC and Sudan, and which was attended by representatives of the Nations Nations, African Union, Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
On the DRC, João Lourenço expressed the desire to be able to "overcome the lack of definitions and the impasse that exists in the execution of decisions taken at previous summits held in Luanda and Kenya, so that the gains achieved so far are not lost and if it manages to keep on track the whole process of pacification of the East of the DRC".
Noting that in the region the ceasefire "has been complied with, except for small incidents normal in processes like this", João Lourenço called for the rapid creation of conditions "for the cantonment of Congolese citizens who are members of the M-23" (rebel movement) and welcomed the decision to deploy a special force within SADC "as a regional response to efforts to restore peace and security in the territory of the DRC".
"In view of the peace objectives defined for the DRC, it is urgent that a coordination effort be undertaken between all the actors in the referred process, having therefore become evident the imperative need to hold a Quadripartite Summit in Luanda, with the participation of SADC, CAO, CIRGL and ECCAS, under the coordination of the African Union. I would like to be able to count on your support for the materialization of this intention", appealed the President.
