President Museveni on Wednesday evening joined fellow East African Community heads of state in a meeting to discuss the happenings in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
M23 rebels on Monday captured Goma City, the capital of the North Kivu Province as escalating conflict in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) took a dramatic turn.
During the extraordinary summit called by the EAC chairman, President William Ruto, the East African leaders raised concern over the deteriorating security situation in Eastern DRC and called for efforts to deescalate the situation.
“The Summit called on all parties to the conflict in Eastern DRC to cease hostilities, observe an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and facilitate humanitarian access to the affected population,” a joint communique issued on Wednesday night said in part.
“Additionally, the Summit called for a peaceful settlement of the conflicts and strongly urged the government of the DRC to directly engage with all stakeholders, including the M23 and other armed groups with grievances.”
In a statement on his social media, President Museveni reiterated the need for engagement between all parties involved in the violence in DRC.
“We agreed that President Tshisekedi should engage in dialogue with his armed opponents,” Museveni said.
According to the joint communique, the leaders also expressed concern and condemned the expanding crisis, including attacks on diplomatic missions, embassies, and staff based in Kinshasa.
“Accordingly, the Summit urged the government of the DRC to protect diplomatic missions, lives, and property.
Whereas the East African leaders noted the deployment of the South African army in DRC under SADC, they said they will wait for the SADC summit to deliberate on the matter.