FINAL COMMUNIQUE - Mini summit of the Heads of State

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

PRESS RELEASE FINAL OF THE MINI-SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE OF THE REPUBLICS OF UGANDA, RWANDA, ANGOLA AND THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC)

By videoconference, October 07, 2020 

 

1.At the initiative of His Excellency Mr. Félix- Antoine TSHISEKEDI TSHILOMBO, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, there was a videoconference, on October 07, 2020, a Mini-Summit of Heads of State of the Republic of Uganda, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

2.This High Level Meeting was attended by:

●His Excellency Mr. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI, President of the Republic of Uganda;

 

●His Excellency Mr. Paul KAGAME, President of the Republic of Rwanda;

 

●His Excellency Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves LOURENÇO, President of the Republic of Angola; 

 

●His Excellency Mr. Félix-Antoine TSHISEKEDI TSHILOMBO, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

 

3.The Mini-Summit offered the Heads of State the opportunity to discuss subjects of common interest with a view to strengthening good neighborly relations between the countries concerned, and to fostering the strengthening of cooperation for pacification and stabilization of the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes sub-region.

4.The Heads of State of the four countries reviewed the security situation in the Great Lakes sub-region, and recalled the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement of February 2013 which affirms the security concerns of the countries of the sub-region. -Great Lakes region. In this regard, they reaffirmed their willingness to combine their efforts to eradicate the negative forces and armed groups operating in the Great Lakes sub-region;

5.They condemned the activism of negative forces in the Great Lakes sub-region, and reaffirmed their willingness to advocate for the strengthening of the capacities of existing mechanisms in the Great Lakes sub-region in order to cut off negative forces from sources of financing of their activities and to jointly fight against both regional and international mafia networks which contribute the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources in the Great Lakes sub-region;

6.The Heads of State deplored the harmful effects of the coronavirus disease, particularly the loss of human lives recorded in the Great Lakes sub-region and in the world as well as its negative impact on economies. They offered their sincere condolences to the bereaved families, and resolved to be extra vigilant in the face of persistent threats. of this epidemic in their respective countries; 

7.To this end, the Heads of State agreed to set up a cross-border plan to strengthen surveillance and control measures in response to Covid-19 and other pathologies with epidemic potential between the four countries, while respecting national, regional and international laws relating thereto;

8.The Heads of State reaffirmed their determination to consolidate cooperation between States and to pursue the exploration of economic opportunities, including facilitation of cross-border trade and infrastructure to strengthen the regional integration necessary for the consolidation of peace and safety in the Great Lakes sub-region; 

9.The Heads of State directed the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to propose practical modalities for the implementation of the decisions of this Summit.

10.His Excellency Félix-Antoine TSHISEKEDI TSHILOMBO thanked his counterparts from the Republics of Uganda, Rwanda and Angola for their participation in this Mini-Summit and their reaffirmation of supporting efforts for peace, security and stability in the Great Lakes sub-region; 

11.The Heads of State welcomed the initiative of their counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo, His Excellency Félix-Antoine TSHISEKEDI TSHILOMBO for the holding of this Mini-Summit. 

  

Done by videoconference on October 07, 2020