Luanda, Angola – President João Lourenço of Angola emphasized the importance of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in resolving the ongoing security crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He made these remarks on Saturday at the opening of the SADC Extraordinary Summit focused on the political and security situation in the DRC.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the support of SADC is vital in the pursuit of peace, stability, and security in the DRC, especially in light of the elections scheduled for December this year. He highlighted that achieving peace and stability is crucial for the economic development of the DRC, which he views as a regional and continental giant.
The Summit provided an opportunity for SADC Heads of State and Government to discuss the current security challenges in the DRC, a region that has been grappling with instability for several years. The resolution of the DRC’s security crisis was identified as a key challenge of President Lourenço’s mandate when he was elected chairperson of the SADC at the 43rd Summit in Luanda.
President Lourenço’s commitment to this issue extends back to November 2020, when he assumed the presidency of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL). At that time, he expressed Angola’s readiness to collaborate with other member states to uphold peace agreements aimed at ending conflict in the region.
In March of this year, as part of Angola’s commitment, the Angolan Parliament authorized the deployment of a military contingent to the eastern region of the DRC. This force, comprising 450 soldiers from the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), is tasked with supporting peacekeeping operations and securing cantonment areas for M23 rebels. The mission is set to last 12 months and has an estimated cost of over 4 billion kwanzas.
This decision to deploy Angolan troops for peacekeeping in the DRC was a follow-up to President Lourenço’s proposal at the African Union Conference of Heads of State and Government in February this year, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The proposal included clear definitions of cantonment areas, financing the process, and preparing areas for the maintenance of M23 forces.