Report of the Meeting of the Joint Coordination Mechanism for the Implementation of Ceasefire and Withdraw of M23 in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

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Country/entity: Democratic Republic of Congo
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Report of the Meeting of the Joint Coordination Mechanism for the Implementation of Ceasefire and Withdraw of M23 in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Date: 2 Mar 2023
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Congo Civil Wars (1996 - )
The overthrow of the long-term dictator Mobutu Sese Seko by a rebel Tutsi army backed by Uganda and Rwanda in 1997 acted as a catalyst for a war with regional dimensions, mainly fought in the eastern Kivu provinces. The conflict escalated in 1998, when President Laurent Kabila, then backed by Zimbabwean and Angolan troops, ordered Rwanda and Uganda to leave. After Kabila’s assassination in 2001, his son Joseph took over the presidency and won in the 2006 democratic elections.

In the eastern provinces, Tutsi-led militias, mainly organised in the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), fought the remnants of the Rwandan Hutu force FDLR, with further involvement of Rwandan and Ugandan troops. Other regionally operating militia groups, like the Lord’s Resistance Army from Northern Uganda, the so-called Mai Mai groups or short-lived guerrilla outfits like the March 23 Movement (M23) further contributed, and still contribute, to the complexity of the situation in eastern DRC.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: DRC: EAC-led Nairobi process for Eastern DRC
Parties: Lieutenant General Silas Ntigurirwa
Chairperson of the Technical Team and Advisor to the Facilitator of the EAC Led Nairobi Process

Colonel Adelino Afonso
Representative of the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism

Major General M Nyagah
EAC Regional Force (EACRF) Commander

Major General Ally Mzee Katimbe
Military Advisor to EAC SG
Representative of EAC Secretary General

Colonel Rigobert Ibouanga
Representative of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Commander
Third parties: -
Description: -

Agreement document: CD_230302_Implementation of Ceasefire and Withdraw of M23 in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: The Meeting;
...
EMPHASIZED the need for the EAC Regional Force Contingents to deploy in the multinational sector within Eastern DRC and withdraw of M23 in phases as follow:
Phase 1:
M23 withdraws from Kibumba, Rumangabo, Karenga, Kirolirwe and Kitchanga.
Phase 2:
M23 withdraws from Kishishe, Bambo, Kazaroho, Tongo and Mabenga.
Phase 3:
M23 withdrawas from Rutshuru, Kiwanja and Bunagana.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: The Meeting;
...
The execution mechanism will be composed of;
...
Lieutenant General Silas Ntigurirwa
Chairperson of the Technical Team and Advisor to the Facilitator of the EAC Led Nairobi Process
...
Major General M Nyagah
EAC Regional Force (EACRF) Commander
Major General Ally Mzee Katimbe
Military Advisor to EAC SG
Representative of EAC Secretary General
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: The Meeting;
...
EMPHASIZED the need for the EAC Regional Force Contingents to deploy in the multinational sector within Eastern DRC and withdraw of M23 in phases as follow:
...
ENCOURAGED the EAC troops contributing countries to deploy the contingents as agreed in the Heads of State Summit and further urged President of the Republic of Angola and the EAC Led Facilitator to communicate to M23 leadership of the Heads of State decisions.
...
The execution mechanism will be composed of;
...
Call upon the African Union (AU) Commission through the AU Peace Fund, MONUSCO and other partners to support the implementation processes towards restoration of peace, security and stability in Eastern DRC.
Enforcement mechanism: The Meeting;
...
COMMITTED to contribute to the process of restoration of Peace and Stability in Eastern DRC by Monitoring, Verifying and Reporting on the progress of the implementation of all decisions regarding the restoration of Peace and Stability in Eastern DRC.
DETERMINED to support the compliance of existing monitoring and verification mechanisms for the implementation of the Cease Fire and disengagement/Withdraw of M23.
...
The execution mechanism will be composed of;
Establishment of a Joint Bureau composed of AVM (Chair), EACRF (deputy Chair), EJVM (secretary) and EAC Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (EACMVM);
The Bureau, within one week, to meet with warring parties and representative of DRC Government /FARDC to begin the implementation of ceasefire and withdraw of M23.
The Bureau to come up with an action plan and a roadmap for the implementation of the ceasefire and withdraw of M23.
...
The Bureau to report regularly to the Chairperson of the EAC Heads of State Summit on the progress of the implementation processes.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: No specific mention.

Report of the Meeting of the Joint Coordination Mechanism for the Implementation of Ceasefire and Withdraw of M23 in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Following the decision of the heads of State and Government during the Summit held on February 17th, 2023 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia,

On Thursday March 2nd, 2023, His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye President of the Republic of Burundi and Chairperson of the summit of the EAC Heads of State, CONVENED a Meeting of Joint Coordination Mechanism (JCM) for the implementation of ceasefire and withdrawal of M23 in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Bujumbura-Burundi.

The meeting was attended by Major General M Nyagah, the EAC Regional Force (EACRF) Commander, Colonel Rigobert Ibouanga, representing the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) Commander, Colonel Adelino Afonso, representing the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism (AVM) Commander, Lieutenant General Silas Ntigurirwa, Chairperson of the technical team and advisor to the facilitator of the EAC Led Nairobi Process.

The EAC SG was represented by Major General Ally Mzee Katimbe, the Military Advisor to EAC SG.

The Meeting;

COMMENCED with an opening statement by His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye President of the Republic of Bururndi and Chairperson of the Heads of State Summit.

This was followed by a summary of previous Summit Decisions on Restoration of Peace and Security in Eastern DRC presented by the Military Advisor to the EAC Secretary General.

This was followed by a briefing on the security situation in Eastern DRC by the EACRF Commander, statements by the representatives of EJVM and AVM.

COMMITTED to contribute to the process of restoration of Peace and Stability in Eastern DRC by Monitoring, Verifying and Reporting on the progress of the implementation of all decisions regarding the restoration of Peace and Stability in Eastern DRC.

DETERMINED to support the compliance of existing monitoring and verification mechanisms for the implementation of the Cease Fire and disengagement/Withdraw of M23.

EMPHASIZED the need for the EAC Regional Force Contingents to deploy in the multinational sector within Eastern DRC and withdraw of M23 in phases as follow:

Phase 1:

M23 withdraws from Kibumba, Rumangabo, Karenga, Kirolirwe and Kitchanga.

Phase 2:

M23 withdraws from Kishishe, Bambo, Kazaroho, Tongo and Mabenga.

Phase 3:

M23 withdrawas from Rutshuru, Kiwanja and Bunagana.

ENCOURAGED the EAC troops contributing countries to deploy the contingents as agreed in the Heads of State Summit and further urged President of the Republic of Angola and the EAC Led Facilitator to communicate to M23 leadership of the Heads of State decisions.

RESOLVED to put in place execution mechanism for the implementation of the Heads of State Summit decisions.

The execution mechanism will be composed of;

Establishment of a Joint Bureau composed of AVM (Chair), EACRF (deputy Chair), EJVM (secretary) and EAC Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (EACMVM);

The Bureau, within one week, to meet with warring parties and representative of DRC Government /FARDC to begin the implementation of ceasefire and withdraw of M23.

The Bureau to come up with an action plan and a roadmap for the implementation of the ceasefire and withdraw of M23.

Call upon the African Union (AU) Commission through the AU Peace Fund, MONUSCO and other partners to support the implementation processes towards restoration of peace, security and stability in Eastern DRC.

The Bureau to report regularly to the Chairperson of the EAC Heads of State Summit on the progress of the implementation processes.

THANKED His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye President of the Republic of Burundi and Chairperson of the EAC Heads of State Summit for convening and hosting of the meeting.

DONE on March 2nd, 2023 in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Lieutenant General Silas Ntigurirwa

Chairperson of the Technical Team and Advisor to the Facilitator of the EAC Led Nairobi Process

Colonel Adelino Afonso

Representative of the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism

Major General M Nyagah

EAC Regional Force (EACRF) Commander

Major General Ally Mzee Katimbe

Military Advisor to EAC SG

Representative of EAC Secretary General

Colonel Rigobert Ibouanga

Representative of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Commander

Report of the Meeting of the Joint Coordination Mechanism for the Implementation of Ceasefire and Withdraw of M23 in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

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

Source agreement