Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Desk Editor
THE joint ministerial meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) has begun at the New Parliament building in Mt Hampden, to deliberate on the implementation of agreed paths during the joint Heads of State and Government Summit held in Dar es Salaam in February.
Adressing at the meeting, the Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, Professor Amon Murwira said delivering peace to Eastern DRC is vital for both regional blocs to ensure the continental vision to silence guns is achieved.
Co-chair of the meeting and EAC Chairperson of the Ministerial Council Honourable Musalia Mudavadi weighed in, saying an immediate ceasefire is critical to bringing sustainable peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The meeting is being attended by the SADC Double Troika plus troops contributing countries with the EAC being represented by its eight-member states.
Statistics indicate that more than 7 000 people have been killed since January this year in the DRC.
The DRC has been plagued by conflict, resulting in a massive humanitarian crisis, including the displacement of over seven million people and the deaths of millions, with the eastern provinces of North Kivu, Ituri, and South Kivu being particularly affected.
