25 11 12 Statement by the Heads of State

                                   
KAMPALA, UGANDA,
                                  
24th November, 2012

PREAMBLE

We,
Heads of State and Government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes
Region (ICGLR), meeting in Kampala, Uganda, on 22nd November 2012, at
the invitation of H.E. President Yoweri Museveni, the President of the Republic
of Uganda and Chairperson of the ICGLR, to discuss the security situation in
Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo;

Recalling
the decisions of our previous Extraordinary Summits, held in
Addis-Ababa on 15th July 2012, and Kampala on 7-8 August 2012, on 8th September,
2012 and again on 8th October 2012 in particular the decisions to establish the
Neutral International Force to combat negative forces in Eastern DRC in line
with the mandate derived from the ICGLR Pact on Security Stability and
Development and its relevant instruments, and the establishment of the
Humanitarian Trust Fund;

Reiterating
the primary responsibility of the region to find lasting solutions to peace and
security challenges in the region;

Cognisant
of the gravity of the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in
Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that constitutes a serious threat to peace,
security, stability and development in the entire Great Lakes Region;

Having
received reports from the Committee of Ministers of Defence and the
Regional Inter ministerial Committee (RIMC) on the security situation in Eastern
DRC, in particular the Concept of Operations for the Neutral International
Force;

Gravely
concerned about the advance and capture of the city of Goma and the
town of Sake in Kivu Province, of the DRC, by the M23 rebel movement in spite of
the directive of the previous Summits of ICGLR to cease hostilities and remain
in positions they occupied in July 2012;

Recalling
our firm commitment to the ICGLR Pact
on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region of
15th December 2006 and its related Protocols;

Appreciating
the statement and offer of support by the representative of the UN
Secretary General;

Welcoming
the offer of support by the Republic of South Africa to the Neutral
International Force;


HEREBY
DECIDE AS FOLLOWS:

I/
SECURITY SITUATION IN EASTERN DRC

1.
The DRC Government to  listen, evaluate and resolve the legitimate
grievances of M23 including taking into account the report of the work already
done by the ICGLR;

2.
M23 to stop expanding the war forthwith and stop talk of overthrowing an elected
Government;

3.
M23 to  stop all war activities and withdraw from Goma;

4.
M23 to withdraw from current positions to the ground of tactical importance not
less than 20km from Goma town within 2 days;

5.
At Goma airport, deploy a Composite Force  comprising:  one
company-Neutral Force, One company-FARDC and the DRC army and one company-
M23;

6.
In Goma town, to deploy one battalion of FARDC and the DRC national police
(those that were deployed there before);

7.
The Police that were disarmed in Goma by M23 to be rearmed so that they resume
duty;

8.
MONUSCO to occupy and provide security in the neutral zone between Goma and the
new areas occupied by M23;

9.
This process shall be supervised by Chiefs of Defence of Rwanda, DRC and led by
the Chief of Defence Forces of Uganda, with the participation of other Chiefs of
Defence Staff from other member states;

10.
Expressed gratitude to the Republic of South Africa for the offer to provide
logistical support to the Neutral International Force;

11.
Support the efforts of the Chairperson of the ICGLR to secure resources from
South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, DRC, the AU, the UN and other partners
for the NIF;

12.
Appreciate the offer by the Government of Tanzania  on the request of the
Chair, to provide a Force Commander for the Neutral International Force;

II/
Admission of South Sudan to the ICGLR

13.
Approve the application of the Republic of South Sudan to the ICGLR, and
accordingly amend the ICGLR Pact to admit South Sudan as the 12th Member State
of the ICGLR.


Done
in Kampala, Uganda on 8th August 2012

1………………………………………………..   
2…………………………………………………
H.E.
JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS    H.E PIERRE NKURUNZIZA
President
of the Republic of Angola    President of the Republic of
Burundi


3……………………………………………….   
4…………………………………………………
H.E.
FRANÇOIS BOZIZE    H.E. DENIS SASSOU-NGUESSO
President
of the Central African Republic    President of the Republic of
Congo


5……………………………………………..   
6…………………………………………………
H.E.
JOSEPH KABILA KABANGE    H.E. MWAI KIBAKI
President
of the Democratic Republic        
President of the Republic of Kenya
of
Congo


7…………………………………………….   
8…………………………………………………
H.E.
PAUL KAGAME    H.E. OMAR HASSAN AHMED EL
President
of the Republic of Rwanda    BASHIR
   
President of the Republic of the Sudan


9………………………………………….   
10……………………………………………….
H.E.
JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE    H.E. YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI
President
of the United Republic     President of the Republic of
Uganda
of
Tanzania   


11…………………………………………..
H.E.
MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA
President
of the Republic of Zambia