Joint EAC-SADC ministers meeting calls for the reopening Goma, Kavumu airports in eastern DRC
According to their joint communique, the opening of the two airports in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces will facilitate the withdrawal of SADC troops (SAMIDRC), allow freedom of movement for humanitarian agencies as well as uninterrupted evacuation from the conflict zones.
A joint meeting of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers wants Goma and Kavumu airports reopened within 30 days.
According to their joint communique, the opening of the two airports in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces will facilitate the withdrawal of SADC troops (SAMIDRC), allow freedom of movement for humanitarian agencies, as well as uninterrupted evacuation from the conflict zones.
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"Several armed groups, including local and foreign militias in North and South Kivu provinces, have precipitated protracted insecurity and the displacement of populations. The recent upsurge in conflict has resulted in the capture of the Goma and Bukavu provincial capitals of North and South Kivu provinces, respectively, as well as the Goma and Kavumu airports by M23, effectively blocking supply routes and links to other regions of the DRC. Amid continued hostilities and a humanitarian crisis, concerns of a spillover effect are growing," the communique stated in part.
The airports' opening will further allow for an actual assessment of the situation on the ground and enable the commencement of political and military intervention efforts as recommended by the summit
The ministers noted that while the UN mission MONUSCO and SAMIDRC troops are on the ground, they have no freedom of movement or action.
The officials were meeting in Harare to, among others, establish a roadmap on the immediate, medium and long-term measures to be taken to address issues relating to the attainment of sustainable peace and make recommendations for the next joint Heads of State summit, noting that the security situation in eastern DRC remains fragile.
While there seems to be a willingness by parties to the conflict to engage in peace efforts, the ministers noted that a major trust deficit exists among the parties to the conflict.
The meeting nevertheless, set priorities on the ongoing efforts that, if implemented, will see the secretariats for the two regional bodies expedite efforts to formally establish the modalities for the Nairobi-Luanda joint processes while inculcating the progress achieved by both.
They agreed that a joint EAC-SADC field technical assessment team of not more than 16 experts from the military and other government agencies be constituted to evaluate the security and humanitarian situation in both North and South Kivu provinces as well as the status of critical infrastructure, including airports.
The team will be composed of operations, intelligence, logistics, civil works and aviation experts.
At the same time, they want a joint EAC-SADC verification mechanism established to monitor the cessation of hostilities and unconditional ceasefire.
"Given the fact that the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and MONUSCO, are available on the ground, the meeting recommended that the ICGLR be engaged on the possibility for SADC and EAC to enhance the EJVM by seconding additional staff to act as the primary tool to monitor the cessation of hostilities, ceasefire and humanitarian situation," the communique adds.
Within the period running between 30 days to four months, the joint summit hopes to have achieved a permanent ceasefire, secured the region, and engaged in confidence-building efforts as well as other UN efforts.
In the long term, the ministers said plans to address the root causes of the conflict and restoration of state authority.
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