In Addis Ababa, a mini-summit of heads of state on the peace process in eastern DRC

The headquarters of the African Union, in Addis Ababa.

RFI/David Kalfa

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A mini-summit of heads of state on the peace process in eastern DRC was held on February 17, 2023 in Addis Ababa, on the eve of an African Union summit.

The question of the withdrawal of the M23 rebellion was at the heart of the discussions.

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With our special correspondent in Addis Ababa,

The peace process in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was at the heart of a mini-summit of heads of state held this morning of February 17, 2023 in Addis Ababa, on the sidelines of an African Union (AU) summit which begins the following day.

Angola and Burundi chaired this meeting which brought together the countries of the East African Community (EAC), as well as Angola, the AU mediator for the (DRC).

Around the table were the Angolan, Burundian, Congolese, Rwandan presidents and the Tanzanian president.

Uganda and South Sudan were both represented by their foreign ministers.

Objective: to relaunch the Luanda and Nairobi processes, which are almost at a standstill.

This discussion lasted more than four hours.

” discussion 

 , according to a Kenyan diplomatic source.

" 

 ," said an Angolan source.

The withdrawal of the M23 rebellion from the heart of the exchanges

The conclusions of this mini-summit have not yet been finalized.

They should be by February 18.

However, we know that the question of the withdrawal of the M23 rebellion was at the heart of the discussions.

The Heads of State wanted to ratify a new timetable for this withdrawal – the previous deadlines having not been respected – but above all to decide how to “ 

 ” this timetable on the M23, explains a Congolese source.

For the DRC, it was also a matter of pleading for the Heads of State to undertake " 

regional force" (EAC), so that it goes into battle against the M23 if it does not withdraw and while the EAC force is increasingly criticized in the DRC for its inaction.

► To read also: DRC: the East African force wants to reorganize in North Kivu with a withdrawal of the M23 in March

At the opening of the meeting, the Burundian president had deplored the lack of " 

 " of the commitments made at previous summits by the heads of state.

Also this Friday, another meeting devoted to the DRC is due to begin: a meeting of the Peace and Security Council.

The Angolan president, mediator of the AU, must present his report there.

For the DRC, these meetings are also an opportunity to plead for the African Union to become more involved in the resolution of this conflict.

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• ground floor

• M23

• African Union