NEW: SADC holds Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit on DRC today

Richard Muponde

Zimpapers Politics Hub

THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) will hold a virtual Extraordinary Summit of the Organ Troika of Heads of State and Government plus Troop Contributing Countries to the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo today.

Tanzanian President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is the chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, will preside over the Summit.

In a press release, SADC’s head of communication and public relations Ms Barbara Lopi said the Summit will bring together Heads of States and Government from Tanzania, the current SADC Organ Troika Chair; the Republic of Malawi, as the incoming Chair of the Organ; the Republic of Zambia, as the outgoing Chair of the Organ; the Republic of South Africa, as a Troop Contributing Country to the SAMIDRC, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“Its primary focus is to address the peace and security concerns in the eastern part of the DRC.

The Extraordinary SADC Summit is preceded by the Extraordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ Troika, and the meeting of the Senior Officials of the Organ Troika that took place,” she said.

The DRC government is battling M23 rebels that have taken the country’s territory in the east in the towns of Goma, North Kivu and Bukavu, where the rebels have established their administration.

SADC and the East Africa Community (EAC) are making frantic efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the region, where millions of people have been displaced and thousands killed.

The death toll includes at least 14 South African soldiers who were part of the SAMIDRC peacekeeping force.