In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), delegates and experts from member countries of the East African Community (EAC) signed, Thursday, September 8, in Kinshasa, the agreement on the status of the regional force which will be deployed in the east of the country. According to the authorities, this is a major step forward in the deployment of this Force.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
The official signing ceremony took place in the presence of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and the Secretary General of this sub-regional organization, Peter Mathuki.
The agreement sets the deadline for operations at six months renewable.
It determines the system of tax and administrative facilities reserved for contingents.
This document, which the Congolese authorities describe as historic, also establishes the regime of immunities as well as the code of good conduct. The agreement goes further in detail and also defines the method of settling disputes on the ground as well as the management of collateral damage that may arise during operations.
Félix Tshisekedi has focused on this issue, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Christophe Lutundula told RFI: “ The president insisted on the need, during the operations, to protect the population, to respect human rights as well as the need for coordination between all the participants with in particular the support of Monusco which is present today in the field. »
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Regarding the contributing countries, the head of Congolese diplomacy clarified the role that Rwanda will play, accused of supporting the M23 fighters: “ Rwanda will deploy inside its territory, along the border to protect its border. He will not come inside the DRC. Kenya to deploy its units in Rutshuru in North Kivu. »
We also know that the Burundians, whose troops are already in the DRC, will take care of the armed groups located in the province of South Kivu. The Ugandans who are already engaged on Congolese soil will remain in Ituri. For their part, the South Sudanese will be deployed in the north of the country in the former eastern province.
To finance the operations, a special fund was created by the EAC. Other contributions will come in particular from the African Union and even from countries that are not members of the EAC such as Angola or Senegal.