His remarks follow a Heads of State summit in Tanzania that brought together leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to address the escalating conflict in eastern DRC.
The summit called for direct negotiations between all parties, including the M23 rebel group, an immediate ceasefire, and the withdrawal of uninvited foreign forces.
"The outcomes from the joint summit are in essence confidence-building measures towards a sustainable peace. These confidence-building measures will finally lead to the drawdown of the SAMIDRC troops," Ramaphosa stated.
Ramaphosa underscored the urgency of the crisis, particularly after the deaths of 14 South African soldiers among 18 SAMIDRC troops killed in recent clashes.
He emphasized that a ceasefire would allow humanitarian aid to reach affected civilians and help stabilize the region.
The summit directed that the EAC/SADC Chiefs of Defence Forces meet within five days to develop a securitisation plan for Goma and the surrounding area, the reopening of Goma airport, the evacuation of civilians and the repatriation of the deceased.
Despite international calls for dialogue, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has remained reluctant to engage with the M23 rebel group, which now controls large swathes of North Kivu.
The summit was convened following the capture of Goma after intense fighting, with M23 also taking control of Sake and appointing provincial leaders in North Kivu.
M23 maintains that it took up arms to defend the rights of persecuted Congolese Tutsi and Rwandaophone communities, citing the DRC government's failure to address their grievances.
With the situation rapidly evolving, the implementation of the summit's resolutions will be crucial in determining the path toward lasting peace in the region.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/ramaphosa-explains-what-s-needed-for-samidrc-troop-drawdown-in-drc
