A meeting held by the Heads of State of the East African Community has decided to ensure immediate deployment of regional soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
M23 rebels have fought for years to control rich gold and platinum mines found in eastern Congo. Tensions at the border have been rising after Rwandan forces short dead a Congolese army soldier was inside Rwanda after he opened fire on security forces at the border post.
On Friday, the DRC closed its border with Rwanda as the two countries accuse each other of supporting rebels across the common border.
Earlier, DRC officials were quoted as welcoming the idea of a regional force deploying there, if only it didn't include Rwandan soldiers.
The government spokesperson for Rwanda Patrick Muyaya said in a press statement on Friday that Rwanda would not be apart of the regional deployment.
“The government of DRC welcomes the proposal made by President Kenyatta of deploying a new regional military force led by the East African Community to enforce peace in the provinces targeted by M23 and Rwanda but insists that it will not accept the participation of Rwanda in this joint force,” he said.
However, during a meeting held by all Heads of State from the region, the DRC welcomed Kenya’s proposal to deploy a regional force to fight the M23 rebel group, but said it won’t accept neighbour Rwanda’s participation.
The decision on deployment of the regional force is expected to be affirmed on Sunday when military chiefs for the EAC gather in Nairobi to deliberate on EAC chairman's proposal.
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta current chair person of the EAC community asked for consultations with various armed and rebel groups within the DRC .
The Heads of State also directed that "an immediate ceasefire be enforced and cessation of hostilities commence immediately, including withdrawal from recently taken positions.
In a communique issued after the meeting, the presidents called on all the warring parties to fast track the peaceful process for the sake of peace for the people.
"In doing so, the political process should be intensified by all parties in order to allow the citizens of the DRC feel safe and secure and be able to pickup and continue their respective social, cultural and economic activities," it reads in part.
The leaders also "agreed and reinforced that trust and confidence-building, cessation of hostilities, unconditional ceasefire, participation in the political processes in the country, are the key issues that need concerted, urgent and durable resolution."
Other critical issues named are prioritization and participation in the country's development, citizenship, presence of foreign negative elements, fate of combatants during reintegration and status of refugees and internally displaced persons, as requiring concerted, urgent and durable resolution.
The Heads of State also directed an end to all what they called offensive language, hate speech, threats of genocide "and other politically inciting language", which must be discouraged by all parties.
"The people of the DRC must be encouraged to work together in order to stabilize the eastern DRC for it to prosper," the leaders concluded.
The presidents were also briefed by the Chiefs of Defence Forces in the seven countries who had just ended their consultations a day before.
The brief defined the problem, highlighted the threat analysis, Concept of Operations, Status of Forces Agreement, Rules of Engagement, and other legal and technical regulations to facilitate the operationalization of the Regional Force and its various operational arms.
The force will be constituted as an East African Community force under the EAC Protocol on Peace and Security and the EAC Treaty Article 124 on regional peace and security and Article 125 on cooperation in defence.
