President Yoweri Museveni and his Rwanda counterpart have agreed to push for regional peace and stability by working collectively as the East African block to resolve the conflict that has rocked the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC for years.
The two heads of state met at the State House in Entebbe, where president, Paul Kagame came on a private invite by Museveni. In a press release by the state House, president Museveni says that the problems affecting the region including the crisis in Congo need a collective approach from all regional members.
“This time we must insist on working together because these people have suffered a lot. I told President Kenyatta that if we don’t come in as a region, Congo may become like Sudan,” said Museveni.
There has been fighting in Congo for decades with different militia fighting to control territories in Congo hence killing and displacing millions. Recently, Uganda teamed up with DRC forces to flash out the rebel Allied Democratic Front-ADF from Kivu Province of Eastern Congo while M23, another rebel group has been blamed for numerous attacks on civilians and government forces.
On his part, Rwanda President Paul Kagame said that the Congolese problem should not be the responsibility of others but that all leaders and parties involved must talk to solve the crisis once and for all. He says they need to talk without leaving anyone behind.
On April, 21st, 2022, heads of State of the East African region agreed to accelerate the establishment of a regional force to help contain and where necessary, fight the negative forces. The meeting directed the urgent deployment of such a force.
