COMMUNIQUÉ: THE THIRD HEADS OF STATE CONCLAVE ON THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - THE NAIROBI PROCESS

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COMMUNIQUÉ

THE THIRD HEADS OF STATE CONCLAVE ON THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

 THE NAIROBI PROCESS

1. On Monday, 20th June 2022, His Excellency Uhuru KENYATTA, President of the Republic of Kenya, CONVENED in Nairobi, a Septet Summit and 3rd Conclave of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State on the peace and security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Summit was attended by His Excellency Yoweri MUSEVENI, President of the Republic of Uganda; His Excellency Paul KAGAME, President of the Republic of Rwanda; His Excellency Salva KIIR Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan; His Excellency Felix Antoine TSHISEKEDI Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and His Excellency Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE, President of the Republic of The Head of State of the United Republic of Tanzania was represented by H.E. Amb. Dr. John Steven SIMBACHAWENE, High Commissioner of Tanzania to Kenya. The Heads of State DELIBERATED on the security situation in the eastern DRC and on measures to promote peace, stability and development in the eastern DRC and the greater east African region.

2. COMMITTED to contribute to reconciliation and lasting peace and DETERMINED to find a swift and lasting solution to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in the North and South Kivu as well as Ituri They APPRECIATED the supremacy of the Constitution of the DRC and COMMITTED to maintain a unified and secure country, with coherence and credible institutions of central government exercising full territorial authority and recognizing that peaceful means are the best way to resolve conflicts.

3. The Conclave COMMENCED with a detailed brief on the military track. The brief was presented by the Chief of Defence Forces of Kenya, General Robert Kibochi, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Committee of East African Community Chiefs of Defence This followed a meeting of the Chiefs of Defence Forces on Sunday 19^th June 2022 in Nairobi. In attendance were the Chiefs of Defence Forces of all the seven (7) countries of the EAC Partner States. The brief defined the problem, highlighted the threat analysis, Concept of Operations (CONOPs), Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), Rules of Engagement (ROE) and other legal and technical regulations to facilitate the operationalization of the Regional Force and its various operational arms.

The Heads of State ACCEPTED and ADOPTED the CONOPs, SOFA and ROE as presented by the Chiefs of Defence Forces for immediate implementation. In doing so, the Heads of State INSTRUCTED that the Regional Force should in cooperation with the military and administrative forces of the DRC seek to stabilize and secure the peace an in the DRC. The Regional Force should also COOPERATE in implementation of the disarmament and demobilization process.

4. The Regional Force which will be constituted as an East African Community force under the EAC Protocol on Peace and Security and the EAC Treaty Article 124 on regional peace and security and Article 125 on cooperation in The Regional Force RECEIVED its operational mandate and DETAILED its operational structure for the Heads of State. In attendance at the brief was the Executive Secretary of the EAC.

5. The Conclave RECEIVED a WRITTEN brief on the political track of the Nairobi process which detailed actions and activities that have been undertaken since the last convening of the second Conclave including the convening of the consultations with various armed and rebel groups within the DRC as a follow up to the consultations undertaken by the DRC with the rebel groups in Nairobi.

6. The Heads of State DIRECTED that an immediate ceasefire should be enforced and cessation of hostilities should commence immediately, including withdrawal from recently taken positions. In doing so, the political process should be intensified by all parties in order to allow the citizens of the DRC feel safe and secure and be able to pick up and continue their respective social, cultural and economic activities.

7. The conclave AGREED and REINFORCED that trust and confidence-building, cessation of hostilities, unconditional ceasefire, participation in the political processes in the country, prioritization and participation in the country’s development, citizenship, presence of foreign negative elements, fate of combatants during reintegration and status of refugees and internally displaced persons are among critical issues that require concerted, urgent and durable resolution.

8. The Heads of State also EMPHASIZED that all offensive language, hate speech, threats of genocide and other politically inciting language must cease and must be discouraged by all parties and that the people of the DRC must be encouraged to work together in order to stabilize the eastern DRC for it to prosper.

9. At the close of the conclave President Salva KIIR Mayardit took the opportunity to brief the meeting on the most recent and important developments in the political process in South Sudan.

10. The leaders THANKED President Uhuru KENYATTA for his convening and hosting of the third Conclave and thanked His Excellency Felix Antoine TSHISEKEDI Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo for taking the regional route in his determination to resolve the peace and security situation in the east of the DRC.

11. RELEASED on 20th June, 2022, Nairobi, Kenya

COMMUNIQUÉ ON THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF ACCESSION OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO TO THE TREATY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AFRICA COMMUNITY

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COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 19TH EXTRA-ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE

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EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE

19^TH EXTRA-ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE

29^TH MARCH, 2022

1. THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE, THEIR EXCELLENCIES PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA; PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA, PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA; PRESIDENT SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, VICE PRESIDENT PROSPER BAZOMBANZA REPRESENTING PRESIDENT ÉVARISTE NDAYISHIMIYE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI AND BARNABA MARIAL BENJAMIN, MINISTER OF PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS REPRESENTING PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN HELD THE 19^TH EXTRA-ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE ON 29^TH MARCH, 2022. IN ATTENDANCE WAS PRESIDENT H.E FÉLIX ANTOINE TSHISEKEDI, PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. THE HEADS OF STATE MET IN A WARM AND CORDIAL ATMOSPHERE.

2. THE SUMMIT RECALLED THAT AT ITS 18^TH EXTRA-ORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 22^ND DECEMBER, 2021, IT HAD DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO EXPEDITIOUSLY COMMENCE AND CONCLUDE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO FOR ADMISSION TO THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND REPORT TO THE NEXT SUMMIT.

3. THE SUMMIT CONDOLED WITH E PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI, AND THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA UPON THE DEMISE OF THE LATE RT. HON. JACOB OULANYAH, FORMER SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA.

4. THE SUMMIT NOTED THE SUCCESFUL CONCLUSION OF THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY FOR THE ADMISSION OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO INTO THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND COMMENDED BOTH PARTIES FOR THIS ACHIEVEMENT.

5. THE SUMMIT RECEIVED AND CONSIDERED THE REPORT OF THE 46TH EXTRA-ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AND THE RECOMMENDATION ON THE ADMISSION OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) INTO THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY.

6. THE SUMMIT DECIDED TO ADMIT THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AS A FULL MEMBER OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY.

7. THE SUMMIT DESIGNATED E PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SUMMIT TO SIGN THE TREATY OF ACCESSION OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO INTO THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY BY 14^TH APRIL 2022. THEREAFTER THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO SHALL BE REQUIRED TO DEPOSIT THE INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION WITH THE SECRETARY GENERAL BEFORE 29^TH SEPTEMBER 2022.

8. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO DEVELOP A ROADMAP FOR THE INTEGRATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO INTO THE EAC AND REPORT PROGRESS TO THE NEXT SUMMIT.

9. THE SUMMIT CALLED FOR DEEPER ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL INTEGRATION WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH INCREASED COMPETITIVENESS, VALUE ADDED PRODUCTION, TRADE AND INVESTMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

10. THEIR EXCELLENCIES PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA, PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA; PRESIDENT SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, VICE PRESIDENT PROSPER BAZOMBANZA REPRESENTING PRESIDENT ÉVARISTE NDAYISHIMIYE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI AND H.E. DR. BARNABA MARIAL BENJAMIN, MINISTER OF PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS REPRESENTING PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN, THANKED THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SUMMIT, PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA FOR SUCCESFULY CONVENING THE 19TH EXTRA- ORDINARY SUMMIT.

DONE VIRTUALLY, THIS 29^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2022.

COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 18TH EXTRA-ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE

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EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE

18^TH EXTRA-ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE

1. THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE, THEIR EXCELLENCIES PRESIDENT UHURU MUIGAI KENYATTA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA; PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA; PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA; PRESIDENT SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA; E. PROSPER BAZOMBANZA, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI REPRESENTING PRESIDENT ÉVARISTE NDAYISHIMIYE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI; AND HON. DENG ALOR KUOL, MINISTER FOR EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN, REPRESENTING PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN HELD THE 18^TH EXTRA-ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE VIRTUALLY ON 22^ND DECEMBER, 2021. THE HEADS OF STATE MET IN A WARM AND CORDIAL ENVIRONMENT.

2. THE SUMMIT OBSERVED A MINUTE OF SILENCE IN HONOUR OF THE LATE H.E DR. JOHN POMBE JOSEPH MAGUFULI, THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, WHO PASSED ON THE 17^TH MARCH, 2021 IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA. THE SUMMIT PAID GLOWING TRIBUTE TO THE LATE PRESIDENT FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY(EAC) INTEGRATION PROCESS, INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND STEERING ECONOMIC GROWTH.

3. THE SUMMIT CONGRATULATED H.E. PRESIDENT SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN WHO WAS ATTENDING THE SUMMIT FOR THE FIRST TIME AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA.

4. THE SUMMIT RECALLED THAT AT ITS 21^ST ORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 27^TH FEBRUARY, 2021, IT CONSIDERED THE APPLICATION BY THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) TO JOIN THE EAC AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO EXPEDITIOUSLY UNDERTAKE A VERIFICATION MISSION TO THE DRC IN ACCORDANCE WITH EAC PROCEDURES FOR ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS INTO THE EAC AND REPORT TO THE 22^ND  SUMMIT.

5. THE SUMMIT RECEIVED AND CONSIDERED THE REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ON THE VERIFICATION MISSION ON THE ADMISSION OF THE DRC TO JOIN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO EXPEDITIOUSLY COMMENCE AND CONCLUDE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DRC FOR ADMISSION TO THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND REPORT TO THE NEXT SUMMIT.

6. THE SUMMIT CONSIDERED THE PROPOSAL TO AMEND RULE 11 OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE SUMMIT OF THE HEADS OF STATE OR GOVERNMENT AND DIRECTED THE SECRETARIAT TO CONVENE AN EXTRA-ORDINARY MEETING OF THE SECTORAL COUNCIL ON LEGAL AND JUDICIAL AFFAIRS TO DELIBERATE AND ADVISE ON THIS PROPOSAL FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE NEXT SUMMIT WHICH SHALL CONSIDER AND CONCLUDE ON THIS MATTER.

7. THEIR EXCELLENCIES PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA; PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA; PRESIDENT SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA; H.E. PROSPER BAZOMBANZA, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI REPRESENTING H.E PRESIDENT ÉVARISTE NDAYISHIMIYE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI; AND HON. DENG ALOR KUOL, MINISTER FOR EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN, REPRESENTING H.E PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN, THANKED THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SUMMIT, PRESIDENT UHURU MUIGAI KENYATTA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA FOR CONVENING THE 18^TH EXTRA-ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE EAC HEADS OF STATE.

DONE, THIS 22^ND DECEMBER, 2021.