Johannesburg: Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has issued an appeal for an immediate end to hostilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), urging conflicting parties to honour their pledges for peace. The Minister was delivering remarks at the Ad Hoc Summit of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and region.
According to South African Government News Agency, Ntshavheni emphasized the need for conflicting parties in the DRC to demonstrate political will and selfless leadership. She called for fulfilling previous commitments to establish a permanent, effective, and verifiable ceasefire and engaging in inclusive dialogue that will lead to peace and reconciliation. She stressed the importance of prioritizing the interests of the people of the DRC for enduring peace and economic development.
Ntshavheni noted the persistence of conflict in the area despite various external peace efforts aimed at addressing armed conflicts and their impacts on the people of the eastern DRC and its immediate region. She highlighted that actions by armed groups, particularly the M23 and FDLR, continue to undermine the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework and other ongoing peace processes. The recent territorial expansion of the M23, including the seizure of Uvira and the establishment of parallel administrations, has led to human rights violations and a humanitarian crisis, hindering peace efforts.
The Minister emphasized the need for immediate action through genuine, inclusive dialogue among all parties to prevent further regional instability. She urged a collective response and questioned why, despite several agreements, achieving peace and lasting security remains elusive. Ntshavheni asserted that peace would only be achieved through an inclusive process addressing the root causes and drivers of the conflict. She identified the lack of implementation of agreements as a major challenge and stressed the importance of fulfilling commitments made as signatories to the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework.