Regional blocs call for unconditional withdrawal of rebel groups from Eastern DRC

GOOBJOOG NEWS | LUANDA: Four regional blocs have called for an unconditional withdrawal of all armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in an effort to end the decades-long war.

Heads of States and government of the East African Community (EAC), Economic Community of Central African States (Eccas), International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and Southern African Development Community (Sadc) made the resolution during a meeting held in the Angolan capital Luanda Tuesday.

The leaders said prolonged instability in east DRC is a concern all over the globe, a concerns that was also raised by the United States which warned on Monday that withdrawing UN peacekeepers from the DRC, which Kinshasa has suggested take place after December elections would be premature.

“A precipitous withdrawal of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Monusco) would likely leave a security vacuum that state authorities are unable to fill,” said Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood, adding that it would lead to more activity by armed groups.

Last week, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that since March 2022 alone, 5.7 million people have been displaced in the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri.

Overall, 6.2 million people have fled their homes across the country – the highest number in Africa.

The Luanda summit came as a follow-up of other gatherings over the DRC conflict. Earlier this month, also in Luanda, regional leaders welcomed the SADC deployment of troops to the eastern DRC.