KAMPALA — President Museveni has held a virtual mini summit with regional leaders and discussed subjects of common interest to strengthen good neighborly relations among great lakes sub region countries.
The virtual high level meeting was also attended by Rwanda President Paul Kagame, President João Laurenco of Angola, and President Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo.
According to a news release by State House, Heads of State of the four countries reviewed the security situation in the Great Lakes sub-region, and recalled the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement of February 2013 which affirms the security concerns of the countries of the Great Lakes region.
In this regard, they reaffirmed their willingness to combine their efforts to eradicate the negative forces and armed groups operating in the Great Lakes sub-region but also condemned the activism of negative forces in the Great Lakes sub-region, and reaffirmed their willingness to advocate for the strengthening of the capacities of existing mechanisms to cut off negative forces from sources of financing of their activities and to jointly fight against both regional and international mafia networks which contribute the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources in the Great Lakes sub-region.
The release also added that leadefs deplored the harmful effects of the coronavirus disease, particularly the loss of human lives recorded in the sub-region and in the world as well as its negative impact on economies.
“They offered their sincere condolences to the bereaved families, and resolved to be extra vigilant in the face of persistent threats. of this epidemic in their respective countries” State House said and added that they agreed to set up a cross-border plan to strengthen surveillance and control measures in response to Covid-19 and other pathologies with epidemic potential between the four countries, while respecting national, regional and international laws relating thereto.
The Heads of State equally reaffirmed their determination to consolidate cooperation between States and to pursue the exploration of economic opportunities, including facilitation of cross-border trade and infrastructure to strengthen the regional integration necessary for the consolidation of peace and safety.
The leaders directed the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to propose practical modalities for the implementation of the decisions of this Summit.
