1. The Lusaka Ceasefire
Agreement of 1999 sets out modalities for the tracking down and
disarmament of ex-FAR and Interahamwe forces in the territory of
the DRC. To date, it has not been possible to effectively
implement the decisions relating to these armed groups.
2. The governments of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda
have sought to find an expeditious manner of implementing these
decisions.
3. The Parties
acknowledge that there have been numerous attempts to implement
agreements reached between them with regard to this matter. The
Parties also acknowledge that the launch of the African Union,
recent UN resolutions and the involvement of a third party
present a window of opportunity to urgently resolve this matter.
By third party, both
parties understand this to refer to the Secretary General of the
United Nations and South Africa, in its dual capacity as
Chairperson of the African Union and facilitator of this
process.
The Parties further
acknowledge that the resolution of this matter will be a process
and not an event.
4. The government of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo reaffirms its stated
legitimate right that the forces of the government of Rwanda
withdraw from the territory of the DRC without delay.
5. The government of
Rwanda reaffirms its readiness to withdraw from the territory of
the DRC as soon as effective measures that address its security
concerns, in particular the dismantling of the ex-FAR and
Interahamwe forces, have been agreed to. Withdrawal should start
simultaneously with the implementation of the measures, both of
which will be verified by MONUC, JMC and the third party.
6. The Interahamwe and
ex-FAR armed groups fled to various countries, including the DRC,
after participating in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The DRC
government states that it does not wish to have these armed
groups present in the territory of the DRC. The DRC government
does not want its territory to be used as a base for attacks
against its neighbouring countries.
7. The DRC government
is ready to collaborate with MONUC, the JMC and any other Force
constituted by the third party, to assemble and disarm the
ex-FAR and Interahamwe in the whole of the territory of the DRC.
8. In this regard, the
Parties agree as follows:
8.1 The DRC
government will continue with the process of tracking down and
disarming the Interahamwe and ex-FAR within the territory of
the DRC under its control.
8.2 The DRC
government will collaborate with MONUC and the JMC in the
dismantling of the ex-FAR and Interahamwe forces in the DRC.
8.3 The Rwandan
government undertakes to withdraw its troops from the DRC
territory, following the process outlined in paragraph 5. This
will be according to measures as detailed in the
implementation programme.
8.4 That MONUC,
acting together with all relevant UN Agencies, should be
requested to immediately set up processes to repatriate all
Rwandese, ex-FAR and Interahamwe to Rwanda, including those in
Kamina, in co-ordination with the governments of Rwanda and
the DRC.
8.5 The governments
of the DRC and Rwanda would provide the facilitator of this
meeting and the UN Secretary General with all the information
in their possession relating to these armed groups.
8.6 The third party
will take responsibility for verifying whatever information
received, through whatever measures deemed necessary.
8.7 The Parties agree
to accept the verification report from the third party.
8.8 That the UN
considers changing the mandate of MONUC into a Peace-keeping
mission.
8.9 MONUC should
immediately proceed to implement Phase 3 of its DDRR and
finalise its deployment in the DRC, especially in the eastern
part of the territory.
8.10 The Parties
agree that their respective governments would put into place a
mechanism for the normalisation of the security situation
along their common border. This mechanism may include the
presence of an International Force to cooperate with the two
countries, in the short term, to secure their common border.
8.11 That a bilateral
team, facilitated by South Africa and the UN Secretary
General, work on a detailed calendar to implement this
agreement.
8.12 Both Parties
commit themselves to accepting the role and findings of the
third party in the process of implementing this agreement, and
further accept that the commitments and agreements reached in
this Peace Agreement are binding.
