DRC Peace Indispensable , Butale

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) occupies a position of strategic importance on the continent, thus its peace is indispensable for African trade.

The Minister for International Relations, Dr Phenyo Butale, said on Saturday during a meeting of the African Union Panel of Facilitators and the Independent Joint Secretariat on the peace process for the eastern DRC that as one of Africa’s largest countries, endowed with vast natural resources and situated at the heart of the continent, the DRC’s peace, stability, and prosperity were indispensable.

“The DRC’s peace and stability are important not only to its own people but also to regional integration, cross-border trade, economic transformation, and the realisation of the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063,” he said.

Former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo, also the Chairperson of the Panel of Facilitators, hailed the Gaborone meeting, saying there had never been a comprehensive meeting of mediators, facilitators, and international partners on the resolution of the DRC conflict.

He added that the world and Africa were taking a keen interest in the outcome of the meeting to bring peace to the eastern DRC.

The High-Level Harmonisation Meeting of the Independent Joint Secretariat (IJS) and the African Union (AU) Panel of Facilitators for the Eastern DRC Peace Process was held in Gaborone from July 24 to July 26.

The objective of the meeting was to drive inclusive dialogue, harmonise fragmented mediation efforts, and secure sustainable peace.