20 October 2008
- The Extra-ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika of Heads of State and Government met in Ezulwini, Kingdom of Swaziland. The main objective of the meeting was to review and consult on the latest Political and Security situation in the region with particular reference to the current developments in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Kingdom of Lesotho.
- The meeting was chaired by His Majesty, King Mswati III, Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation and King of the Kingdom of Swaziland.
- The Extra-ordinary Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government or their representatives:
Swaziland: His Majesty King Mswati III, Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation
DRC: H.E. President Joseph Kabila
Mozambique: H.E. President Armando Emilio Guebuza
South Africa: H.E. President Kgalema Motlanthe, Chairperson of SADC
Zimbabwe: H. E. President Robert Mugabe
Angola: Hon. Assuncao A Sousa dos Anjos, Minister of External Affairs - The meeting was also attended by the Right Honourable Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, M.P., Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland; His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, Former President of the Republic of South Africa and Mediator on the Zimbabwe Political Dialogue; His Excellency Sir Ketumile Masire, Former President of Botswana and the Eminent Person in the Post-Electoral Dialogue in the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomao.
- In his opening remarks, His Majesty King Mswati III welcomed His Excellency President Kgalema Motlanthe in his new role as the President of the Republic of South Africa and the Chairperson of SADC and wished him all the success. His Majesty King Mswati III as Chairperson of the Organ also welcomed other delegates to the meeting and re-affirmed SADC Organ”s commitment in promoting peace and security in the Region.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika received a report from His Excellency Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on the developments in the Eastern part of the country. The report by His Excellency President Kabila gave a background on the challenges in the Eastern part of the country and the government efforts in redressing the situation.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika maintained that peace and stability are prerequisite for poverty eradication and ending of the Humanitarian crisis in the DRC.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika expressed solidarity with the government and the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo during the challenges facing the country and condemns any acts of destabilisation of the Democratic Republic of Congo and its institutions and violation of her territorial integrity.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika urged SADC Member States, the African Union and the International Community to provide most needed humanitarian assistance to the people of DRC in particular the most affected Eastern part of the country.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika urged the AU, UN, East African Community, Great Lakes and Central Africa regions to continue supporting the peace efforts by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which include inter alia Nairobi Communique, Amani Peace Agreement and the Tripartite Plus One.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika urged all parties to the Conflict in the Great Lakes Region to desist from acts of aggression and observe the UN Charter, AU Constitutive Act, SADC Treaty and the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation while engaging each other on matters of differences.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika support all the initiatives undertaken in the Great Lakes Region towards the maintenance of Peace, Security and Stability and urged all stakeholders to fully commit to the peace process.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika commits itself to consult SADC Member States regarding their support towards capacity building of the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) in order to protect its territorial integrity.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika mandated the Chairperson of the SADC to engage the Tripartite Summit to be held in Kampala, Uganda on 22 October, 2008 on matters pertaining to the current developments in the Eastern part of the DRC.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika further received a brief from His Excellency Sir Ketumile Masire, Former President of the Republic of Botswana and the Eminent Person in the Post-Electoral Dialogue in the Kingdom of Lesotho.
- In his report, H.E. Sir Ketumile Masire, among others indicated the commitment of the Lesotho political stakeholders to dialogue and that the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) Model Experts will be invited before the end of the year to hold a seminar pertaining to the electoral model in the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Troika of the Organ Summit fully supports the initiatives made by the Basotho towards finding a solution to the political dispute in the country.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika congratulated His Excellency Sir Ketumile Masire, Former President of the Republic of Botswana and the Eminent Person in the Post-Electoral Dialogue in the Kingdom of Lesotho for his efforts in pursuit of amicable solutions to the challenges facing the Kingdom of Lesotho.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika, at all levels, will continuously remain seized with the ongoing political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Kingdom of Lesotho.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika congratulated His Excellency Jose Eduardo dos Santos, President of Republic of Angola for the victory of his party, Popular Movement for the Liberation for Angola (MPLA) in the recent Parliamentary elections held on 5 September 2008, and commended all the people of the Republic of Angola for the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves during the electoral process.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika also congratulated His Majesty King Mswat III of the Kingdom of Swaziland for the recent Parliamentary elections held on 19 September 2008, and commended all the people of the Kingdom of Swaziland for the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves during the electoral process.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika noted that Zambia will be holding the Presidential bi-elections on 30 October 2008 and wished the Contestants and the Zambian citizens a peaceful and stable election process.
- Extra Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika in consultation with the SADC His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, Former President of the Republic of South Africa and Mediator on Zimbabwe political dialogue decided to meet in Harare, Zimbabwe on 27 October, 2008 to review the progress on the implementation of the September 15, 2008 Agreement.
- His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Swaziland thanked all Members of the Troika and Heads of State who attended the Extra Ordinary Summit.
Royal Villas
Ezulwini, Kingdom of Swaziland
20 October 2008
