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By Robert Mugabe

newsdesk@greatlakesvoice.com

Rubavu- a high level security delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo,Saturday this weekend, held bilateral security talks with the Rwandan military team led by the Minister of Defense, James Kabalebe, Great Lakes Voice reports.

The DRC Minister of Defense, Alexander Luba Tambo, was accompanied by the Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Didier Etumba, and President Joseph Kabila’s special envoy and director general of the country’s intelligence services, Col. Kalev Mutond.

The ministers of defense who jointly addressed the press said that the meeting was in the context of reviewing security and finding immediate peaceful resolution of the renewed conflict in eastern DRC.

“The problem of refugees in Africa is not new, it’s a complex issue, we are reviewing our partnership with Rwanda and design measures of promoting security and peace along the borders,” Lumbo also reiterating that they want more strong mechanisms to deal with the problem of refugee.

The meeting resolved that DRC government to create favorable conditions for the return of the displaced refugees in the shortest notice.

The meeting which was held at Selena hotel, in Rubavu district, set up a joint commission, composed of Chiefs of Defense Staff to design an operation mechanism to be applied against FDLR

The renewed hostilities in DRC’s North Kivu province have driven more than 10,000 refugees across the Rwandan and Ugandan borders within the last two weeks

The Congolese forces are reportedly engaged in fighting against mutinous soldiers, who previously belonged to the former CNDP and PARECO rebels, a situation which has worsened fragile security in that region

Rwanda’s Defense Minister, James Kabarebe, said that reviewing the security situation, and continued engagements will help promote peace and end such crises whenever they arise

“having meetings itself and putting up mechanisms to restore peace and security in this region is very important. To review the situation, realign and design mechanism to deal with security as it evolves’’ kabalebe added

The meeting which followed two previous meeting of senior defense and military chiefs from both sides, and another one held in Rubavu, last week , between the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen. Charles Kayonga, and his Congolese counterpart, Lt Gen. Didier Etumba

According to security sources, FDLR, has joined the recent clashes, and is currently re arming, taking new positions and directly involved in destabilizing the eastern DRC

“We want to re affirm our commitment to this cause, despite the continued presence of FDRL, the government of Congo, is committed fight and defeat the negative forces,’’ Lubo Tumba

Statistics from the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Refugee Affairs indicate that about 4,000 Congolese refugees have already arrived at the Nkamira Transit Camp in Rubavu, leaving the facility overstretched.

The meeting in Rubavu, which was also attended by Rwanda security and intelligence chief, Lt. Gen Kalenzi Karake, agreed continue to exchange information and updates on the developing situation in eastern DRC.

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