This was one of the conclusions of the summit of heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) who expressed "concern about the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation prevailing in the east of the DRC and the reports of a resumption of attacks and occupation of portions of the territory by the [Congolese rebel movement] M23, in a clear violation of the ceasefire".
In the final communiqué, it is stated that strategic guidelines were defined on the deployment of the SADC Mission in the DRC, aimed at restoring peace and security in the country, and the need for this organization to lead efforts for peace and security in the region is reiterated.
"These efforts include resuming discussions aimed at establishing and making the SADC Peace Fund operational, with the participation of international cooperation partners", the document highlights.
Summit participants wished "peaceful and successful elections" to Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which will hold elections in November and December 2023, respectively, reiterating their support through the deployment of the SADC Electoral Observation Mission.
"The Summit reiterated the urgent need for all parties involved, in particular, and the political parties with seats in the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Lesotho" to implement a process of reforms for "political, economic and national security stability", it refers in the document.
In addition to Angola, the presidents of DRC, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, as well as representatives of the heads of state of Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and Eswatini, as well as the executive secretary of SADC, participated in the summit.
The President of the Republic, João Lourenço, in his opening speech at the extraordinary SADC summit, defended that the regional organization guarantees peace, stability and security in the DRC, taking into account the elections scheduled for December this year, according to the Angolan news Angop.
In March this year, the Angolan Parliament approved the sending of a military contingent to support and maintain peace in the eastern region of the DRC.
The force is made up of 450 soldiers from the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and its purpose is to support peacekeeping operations and the cantonment areas of elements of the M23 rebel movement in that region.
