By John Ikani
Leaders from the two Congos, Uganda, and Togo discussed security in central Africa and recent coups in the west of the continent at a mini-summit on Saturday.
According to a joint communique, the four leaders discussed in length the happenings in several parts of the continent, especially West Africa where coups have become a frequent occasion.
“The exchanges between the four heads of state were essentially focused on the evolution of the political and security situation in the Great Lakes Region, Central Africa and Western Africa,” the statement said.
“They want to better understand what is happening in West Africa and protect themselves from it,” the diplomatic source said of the Great Lakes nations.
Several governments especially in West Africa have in the past three years been overthrown, with the one in Burkina Faso being the latest.
Last week, President of Congo, Felix Tshiseked survived a coup after it was foiled while he was away in Ethiopia for the African Union summit.
The Saturday mini-summit in Congo Brazzaville resolved that the four heads of state will regularly meet to continue strengthening dialogue regarding police and security, regional and international issues.
“The four heads of state reiterated their total support to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the framework of the measures taken towards Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso,” the statement noted.
They also discussed the presence of the Ugandan troops in DRC in a joint operation with Congolese forces against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
“The four heads of state were delighted by the success already realized by the Ugandan and Congolese armed forces. While congratulating one more time for the salutary initiative taken by their peers from Uganda and DRC, the President of the Togolese Republic and the President of the Republic of Congo reiterated their full support to the military joint operations engaged by the two countries,” the statement said.
Recall that the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) recently opened a third offensive route against the Allied Democratic Forces operating in Ituri Provinces and North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of Operation Shuja.
The joint operation in Eastern DRC started with phase one when UPDF using Nobili -Kamango- Mukakati route, joined their counterparts Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) on December, 1, 2021.
This preceded the assault force advancing deep into Virunga impenetrable forest dislodging ADF terrorists in several camps including their stronghold of Kambi Ya Yua where various military attire and documents were recovered.
