The high-level meeting comes following SADC’s decision to withdraw its troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a process that will be carried out in phases.

The announcement of the troop withdrawal has been welcomed by the M23 rebel movement in Goma, DRC, marking a significant moment in ongoing efforts to address the instability in the region.

SA's International Relations Minister, Ronald Lamola, has reiterated Pretoria’s commitment to fostering peace in the region. Speaking about the upcoming discussions, Lamola stated:

“We will continue to engage and remain seized with the situation. This meeting follows the one held in Dar es Salaam, during which it was agreed that we must reconvene within 30 days to assess progress. We deployed the chiefs of defence forces and the two organs of SADC and EAC to initiate the processes.”

The meeting is expected to play a pivotal role in evaluating the progress of peace initiatives and reinforcing regional cooperation to stabilise eastern DRC.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--