Partner States Set up EAC Special Fund as Regional Forces Erect Base in Goma

A High-Level Consultative Meeting of the Summit of East African Community (EAC) Heads of State sat Monday to discuss the peace process in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. 

The meeting was held in Shamar El Sheikh, Egypt on the sidelines of the meeting of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (COP-27). 

The meeting was chaired by Burundi President H.E Evariste Ndayishimiye and attended by H.E Paul Kagame (Rwanda), H.E Suluhu Samia (Tanzania), H.E William Ruto (Kenya) and DR Congo Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Jean – Michel, representing DRC President H.E Felix Tshisekedi. 

Uganda and South Sudan relayed their apologies.

“EAC is keen on ensuring regional peace and security for the prosperity of its people,” said a joint communique. 

According to the communique, the Heads of State commended H.E Uhuru Kenyatta for accepting the role of facilitating the peace process in the Eastern DRC and his leadership and efforts in re-energising the peace process. 

The meeting took note that the force headquarters of the joint regional force of the EAC in eastern DRC has been established in Goma and that a regional force commandeer has been appointed and assumed duties. 

The summit decided that each partner state will deploy a liaison officer at the force headquarters to support the regional command centre. 

The Heads of State commended Burundi, Kenya and Uganda who have already deployed forces in line with the agreed framework and urged the republic of South Sudan to complete the deployment. 

EAC is keen on ensuring regional peace and security for the prosperity of its people. pic.twitter.com/sfBZ2xPfI6

— East African Community (@jumuiya) November 8, 2022

The meeting took note of the operationalisation of the EAC peace facility to support the EAC-led Nairobi process and deeply appreciated the President of Senegal Macky Sall and the Chairperson of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and President of Angola H.E Joao Lourenco for demonstrating solidarity with the EAC through contribution to the EAC Special Fund for the implementation of the peace process. 

The Heads of State appreciated Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania for their commitment to contribute to the EAC Special Fund for the implementation of the peace process. 

The Heads of State reviewed the recent developments in North Kivu, particularly the resurgence of violence and called for a cessation of hostilities to give chance to the political negotiations due to commence on November 16, 2022, in Nairobi, Kenya. 

The Heads of State reaffirmed the need for coordination and the creation of synergy between the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) and the EAC regional force for the sustainability of achieving peace in eastern DRC. 

They further agreed to appoint a technical advisor from each partner state to support the facilitator of the EAC peace process.