Mini Summit on Peace and Security in the Eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo – Final Communique

• Country/entity

  Democratic Republic of Congo
  
• Region

  Africa (excl MENA)
  
• Agreement name

  Mini Summit on Peace and Security in the Eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo – Final Communique
• Date

  23 Nov 2022
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Interstate/intrastate conflict(s) ( Congo Civil Wars (1996 - ) )
• Stage

  Framework/substantive - partial
• Conflict nature

  Government/territory
• Peace process

  DRC: Angola-led process for Eastern DRC
• Parties

  Pour la République d'Angola
  [signature]
  S.E. JOÃO MANUEL CONÇALVES LOURENÇO
  Président de la République et Médiateur mandaté par la Conférence de l'Union Africaine
  
  Pour la République du Burundi
  S.E. ÉVARISTE NDAYISHIMIYE
  Président de la République et Président en Exercise de la Communauté de l'Afrique de l'Est [signature]
  
  Pour la République Démocratique du Congo
  [signature]
  S.E. FÉLIX-ANTOINE TSHISEKEDI TSHILOMBO
  Président de la République
  
  Pour la République du Rwanda
  [signature[
  S.E. VINCENT BIRUTA
  Ministre des Affaires Étrangères et de Coopération Internationale en Représentation de S.E. Paul Kagame, Président de la République du Rwanda
• Third parties

  Pour la Communauté de l'Afrique de l'Est/Facilitateur
  S.E. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta
  Ex-Président de la République du Kenya
• Description

  Communiqué following regional diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the spread of armed groups in DRC. The agreement lays out a tight timetable for insurgent groups to lay down their arms, focusing on the M23. The agreement provides that the EAC regional force will act against M23 in case of non-compliance.

• Agreement document

  CD_221123_Mini Summit on Peace and Security in the Eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.pdf | Download PDF
• Agreement document (original language)

  CD_222311_Mini Sommet sur la Paix et la Securite dans la Region Est de la Republique Democratique du Congo – Communique Final.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA

MINI-SUMMIT ON PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE EASTERN

REGION OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

FINAL COMMUNIQUE

1. At the invitation of His Excellency Joao Manuel Gonsalves Lourenco, President of the Republic of Angola, African Union Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa and Mediator designated to maintain the dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda by the 16th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Malabo on 28 May 2022, a Mini-Summit on Peace and Security in the Eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was held on 23rd of November 2022, in Luanda, Republic of Angola.

2. The Mini-Summit was attended by His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi and current Chairperson of the East African Community (EAC), His Excellency Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, His Excellency Vincent Biruta, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda, representing His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda and His Excellency Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, former President •

of th Facilitator appointed by the EAC for the Nairobi Peace Process.

3. Madame Michelle Ndiaye, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Head of the African Union Liaison Office in the DRC, Ambassador Joao Samuel Caholo, Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and Lieutenant General Nassone Joao, Commander of the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism, also attended the meeting as guests.

4. The main objective of the Luanda Mini-Summit was to establish a timetable for the implementation of priority actions, with a view to the cessation of hostilities and the immediate withdrawal of the M23 from occupied Congolese localities, and to coordinates agreed through the Luanda and Nairobi Processes.

5. The Heads of State welcomed the results of the initiatives taken within the framework of the Luanda and Nairobi Processes, namely the operationalisation of the Ad HocVerification Mechanism on 9th of November 2022 and the deployment of the EAC Regional Force troops in the provinces of North and South Kivu in the DRC.

6. The Heads of State congratulated His Excellency Joao Manuel Gonsalves Lourenco, President of the Republic of Angola, African Union Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa and Mediator designated by the African Union Assembly, and His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Repbulic of Burundi and current Chairperson of the East Afric n Co munity (EAC), for the efforts aiming the restauration o ce, security and stability in the Eastern DRC, within the framework of the Luanda and Nairobi Processes.

7. The Heads of State discussed the security situation in the Eastern region of the DRC and expressed their concern about :

a). The worsening insecurity and persistent military actions of the M23;

b). The acquisition by the M23 of increasingly sophisticated weapons and other means to carry out attacks against the Forces Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo (FARDC) and;

c). The persistence of negative and terrorist forces in the eastern DRC, which constitutes a threat to peace, security and stability in the sub-region.

8. The Mini-Summit decided the following:

a). Cessation of hostilities in general, and in particular of M23 attacks against the FARDC and MONUSCO from Friday, 25th of November 2022 at 18h00 (Day D);

b). Full compliance with the requirements of the Communiqués of the EAC Heads of State Conclaves of 21st of April and 20th of June 2022 (Nairobi Process), the Luanda Roadmap of 6th of July 2022 (Luanda Process) and the conclusions of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Chiefs of General Staff of the EAC Armed Forces (Bujumbura, 8 November 2022);

c). Continued full deployment of the EAC Regional Force

d.) Intervention of the EAC Regional Force against M23, as established in the framework of the Nairobi Process and the conclusions of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Chiefs of General Staff of the EAC Armed Forces, held in Bujumbura, on 8th of November 2022, in case of non­compliance by M23 to cease hostilities and withdraw from the occupied territories;

e). Withdrawal of the M23 from the currently held positions and its return to its initial positions, as per the Extraordinary Meeting of the Chiefs of General Staff of the EAC Armed Forces of 8th of November 2022, held in Bujumbura, Republic of Burundi, under the control of the Regional Force and the Ad Hoc Mechanism in collaboration with MONUSCO (Day D+2), namely:

«Kenya to initially deploy its Contingent in gorna, DRC and subsequently in Bunagana, Rutshuru and Kiwanja upon the withdraw of M23 to its initial positions not beyond the line along Sabinyo (DRC side), Bigega, Bugusa, Nyabikona, Mbuzi, Rutsiro and Nkokwe.

If M23 does not withdraw the EAC Heads of States shall authorize use of force to compel the group to comply»;

f). Creation of the conditions for the occupation of M23 currently controlled zones, by the EAC Regional Force, with the support of MONUSCO and the Ad-Hoc Verification Mechanism (D-Day+2);

g). Cessation of all politico-military support to the M23, FDLR and all other local and foreign armed groups operating in Eastern DRC and the Region (D-Day);

h). FDLR-FOCA, RED-TABARA, ADF and other armed groups operating on Congolese territory shall immediately lay down their arms and initiate their unconditional repatriation under the terms of the Nairobi Process, with the support of MONUSCO, the Ad-Hoc Verification Mechanism and the EAC Regional Force (D-Day+5);

i). Disarmament and cantonment of the M23 in Congolese territory under the control of the FARDC, the Regional Force and the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism, with the collaboration of MONUSCO (D-Day +5);

j). Return of Internal Displaced People (IDPs) to their homes (Day D+7);

k). Resumption and continuation of political consultations between the Government of the DRC and local armed groups (Day D + 10);

l). Resumption of bilateral dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda with a view to the normalisation of diplomatic relations and the resumption of cooperation (Day D+60);

m). Commitment of the parties to the implementation of the Luanda Roadmap and the agreements reached in the Nairobi Process and the EAC Chiefs of General Staff meeting;

n). Consideration and resolution of the issue of the return of all refugees to their countries of origin, as referred to in the Luanda Roadmap (Day D+15);

o). Need of permanent coordination at all levels between the Luanda Process and the Nairobi Process;

9. The Heads of State requested that the FARDC, the Regional Force and the Chiefs of General Staff (CGS) of the EAC Regional Force, in collaboration with MONUSCO, study all issues related to the disarmament and cantonment of M23 elements and submit proposals to them at their next Mini-Summit.

10. The Heads of State recommended the acceleration of the implementation of the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Community Reintegration and Stabilisation Programme (PDDR-CS) underway in the DRC, expressed their deep concern about the conditions in which hundreds of thousands of displaced people are living in the war-affected areas of North Kivu province and launched an appeal to the International Community for humanitarian aid to those populations.

11. The Heads of State agreed to meet again soon in Bujumbura to evaluate the implementation of the conclusions of the resolutions and recommendations of the Luanda Mini-Summit.

12. Finally, the Heads of State thanked His Excellency Joao Manuel Gonsalves Lourenco, President of the Republic of Angola, African Union Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa and Mediator designated by the Assembly of the African Union, for the fraternal welcome and hospitality he extended to them as well as his active involvement in the resolution of the security crisis in the Eastern region of the DRC.

Done in Luanda, on 23rd of Novembre 2022. -

By the Republic of Angola

H.E. João Manuel Goncalves Lorenço

President of the Republic of Angola and the Mediator mandated by the African Union Assembly

By the Republic of Burundi

H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye

President of the Republic of Burundi and Chairperson of the East African Community

By the Democratic Republic of Congo

H.E. Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo

President of the Democratic Republic of Congo

By the Republic of Rwanda

H.E. Vincent Biruta

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Representing H.E. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda

By the East African Community/Facilitator

H.E. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta

Former President of the Republic of Kenya