East African leaders were holding a regional summit in Burundi on Saturday to discuss ways of calming the raging conflict in eastern DR Congo.
The talks are hosted by the seven-nation East Africa Community, which is leading mediation efforts to end the fighting in the restive east of the giant central African nation.
EAC chair and Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye said on Twitter the meeting would evaluate the situation with"a view of coming up with decisions that will ameliorate the security situation & facilitate the restoration of peace and security in eastern DRC". Kagame is on his first visit to Burundi since 2013, with relations long frayed between the Great Lakes neighbours.The EAC meeting is taking place shortly after a visit by Pope Francis to Kinshasa, where he met victims of the conflict and condemned the"inhumane violence" and"brutal atrocities" taking place.
The EAC decided to create a military force to pacify eastern Congo last year, with the first troops arriving in Goma in November. Tensions between the two countries were inflamed last week when Rwandan forces opened fire at a Congolese fighter jet they said had violated Rwandan airspace.The summit also signals a possible rapprochement between Burundi and Rwanda, with their two leaders greeting each other warmly in Bujumbura.
Burundi has accused Rwanda of harbouring those behind a failed 2015 coup that plunged the country into violent chaos.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Congo-Kinshasa: NGOs Demand End to Congo Oil Auction After Leak of Secret Trade-Off DealPress Release - A coalition of civil society groups have called for the immediate cancellation of a massive oil and gas auction in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following news of a secret deal between Oil Minister Didier Budimbu, Nigerian gambling tycoon Chukwuma Ayodeji Ojuroye, and US consultancy GeoSigmoid.
Read more »
Congo-Kinshasa: Pope Francis Prays for Peace in DR CongoAnalysis - A papal mass drew a crowd of over a million people to Kinshasa this week. Prayers were said for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the power of the Catholic Church is a counterweight to the state.
Read more »
Burundi: Journalist's Conviction Violates Free Speech RightsPress Release - Release Floriane Irangabiye; End Politicized Prosecutions
Read more »
Pope Francis in DR Congo: A million celebrate Kinshasa MassIs this the largest crowd to have ever attended mass? Pope Francis has celebrated one of his biggest Masses, with around a million attendees in DR Congo's capital. A public holiday was declared, so as many people as possible could attend.
Read more »
Congo-Kinshasa: Pope Francis Urges Congolese Youth to Work Towards a Better FutureIn a speech to tens of thousands of young people in a stadium in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday, Pope Francis urged them to work towards a better future and reject corruption. The Roman Catholic leader is touring the DRC and South Sudan to deliver a message of "peace and reconciliation".
Read more »