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East Africa leaders call for ceasefire in eastern DR Congo
8:29 CAT | 20 Jun 2022
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame (R) was one of the heads of state welcomed by Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta
East African heads of state have called for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the several rebel groups fighting in its eastern region.
At a meeting in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, the leaders also directed that rebel groups relinquish all territory they hold, and that peace negotiations be intensified.
Regional army chiefs also briefed the presidents on operational procedures and rules of engagement for an East African military force, which is soon to be deployed to DR Congo’s restive North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
The meeting also condemned recent incidents of hate speech and attacks on certain ethnicities in DR Congo, allegedly sparked by accusations from DR Congo that Rwanda is supporting the M23 rebels.
The M23, one of many groups based in North Kivu, first emerged around 2012 and claims to be fighting for the rights of Congolese ethnic Tutsis. Clashes between them and government forces have escalated since March, and last week, they captured Bunagana town at the border with Uganda.
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President Uhuru Kenyatta receives his East African Community (EAC) counterparts Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Evariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Salva Kiir Mayardit (South Sudan) and Felix Tshisekedi (DR Congo) at State House, Nairobi for… pic.twitter.com/ebg5gqn1Ko— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) June 20, 2022
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President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the United Republic of Tanzania is represented at the meeting by the country’s ambassador to Kenya, High Commissioner John Stephen Simbachawene.— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) June 20, 2022
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Today’s Heads of State high-level meeting, hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta in his capacity as the Co-Convenor of the Peace Process and Chairperson of EAC, is an acceleration of ongoing regional efforts to attain sustainable peace and security in Eastern DR Congo. pic.twitter.com/2C9UJnSuxs— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) June 20, 2022
COMMUNIQUÉ: THE THIRD HEADS OF STATE CONCLAVE ON THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO🇨🇩
THE NAIROBI PROCESS
Read more: https://t.co/q2URznxo9e pic.twitter.com/ZHWaiargAf
— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) June 20, 2022
Source: BBC
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