Zambia: Defense chiefs meet amid eastern DRC insecurity

"Zambia wrapped up a threeday emergency meeting convened by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Livingstone to address the spiraling conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Defense ministers and military chiefs from ICGLR member states Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia were invited."

"The UN estimates 500,000 people displaced in the DRC's South Kivu provinceImage: picture alliance / Xinhua News Agency The DRC has accused Rwanda of being responsible for the deaths of more than 1,500 civilians since early December. The government has called the attacks "a clear act of aggression" and a "serious and repeated violation of international law." Separately, the United Nations estimates that about 500,000 people have been displaced in South Kivu during the latest surge in fighting,"

"Zambian political commentator Musaba Chailunga told DW that past peace efforts have been hampered because some international players benefit strategically or economically from insecurity in the eastern DRC. "But that doesn't mean meetings like this should not take place," he said. "Congo is very close to Zambia," he added, "and Congo is very significant for the region and for the whole continent.""

Zambia hosted a three-day emergency meeting of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Livingstone with defense ministers and military chiefs from member states to address escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The meeting followed the M23 rebel group's brief capture of Uvira and a United States-brokered peace agreement on December 4. The DRC has accused Rwanda of causing over 1,500 civilian deaths and labeled the attacks a clear act of aggression and violation of international law. The United Nations estimates about 500,000 people displaced in South Kivu, with tens of thousands fleeing into Burundi. Regional officials urged collective diplomatic and military responses.

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