The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Congolese Living Abroad, Honorable Jean-Claude Gakosso paid today 23 December 2018 a courtesy call on the Chairperson of SADC, His Excellency, President Hage G. Geingob to deliver a special message from His Excellency, Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo and Chairperson of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. Honorable Gakosso carried a message of invitation to the Chairperson of SADC, President Geingob to participate on 26 December 2018 in a joint SADC-ICGLR Summit in Brazzaville to discuss the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Recalling the 22 December 2018 Joint Statement of the International Electoral Observation Missions present in the DRC, which include the SADC Electoral Observation Mission and the African Union Electoral Observation Mission, and their call for peace and the promotion of an environment conducive for holding democratic elections, President Geingob informed that elections in the DRC should be carried out in accordance with SADC and AU principles and standards.
Emphasizing the need for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo to find solutions in the interest of peace and development, President Geingob informed that he will consult the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security, His Excellency President Edgar Lungu of the Republic of Zambia, and member states in the region ahead of collective and joint efforts aimed at promoting peaceful elections and stability in the DRC.
President Geingob reminded that the DRC was vital for development in the sub-region, and that problems don’t have borders, and challenges in one country will affect neighboring countries.
