Uganda, DR Congo mend relations
Dec 16, 2007
UGANDA and the DR Congo have resolved to restore their diplomatic relations. During a landmark meeting at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort on Saturday, top government officials from the two countries agreed to appoint ambassadors early next year.
By Alfred Wasike
UGANDA and the DR Congo have resolved to restore their diplomatic relations. During a landmark meeting at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort on Saturday, top government officials from the two countries agreed to appoint ambassadors early next year.
The two countries fell out in 1998 when Uganda, in an attempt to secure her borders, backed rebels in DR Congo civil war. The Ugandan embassy in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, was vandalised and the last ambassador was Dr. Kamanda Bataringaya, the mineral state minister.
At the meeting, Uganda and Congo revived the Joint Permanent Commission, which had collapsed 10 years back. Created in 1986, the permanent commission was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa, and his Congolese counterpart, Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi, led their delegations to the meeting that started on December 12.
President Yoweri Museveni met the delegation at State House Nakasero.
He assured them that Uganda was ready to enter a joint venture for mineral exploitation and establishment of infrastructure like roads and bridges.
He said such projects would enable the two countries add value and earn more money from international markets.
Museveni assured the Congolese delegation that Uganda had no intention of grabbing their oil deposits.
He said the Rukwanzi Island problem would be sorted out soon, adding that Uganda was committed to settling the matter.
On the implementation of the International Court of Justice judgment of December 19, 2005 and the resolution of other pending judicial matters, the two countries agreed to put in place a joint commission to handle the matter.
Its composition will be communicated in the first fortnight of January 2008.
To enforce security and political affairs, Uganda and Congo resolved to deploy liaison office personnel by the end of this year.
They will be in place by January, to end cross-border insecurity activities by negative forces, a joint communiqué said.
A joint border committee will also be established to verify the demilitarisation, creation of surveillance teams and a joint provisional local administration. The two countries also agreed that the committee meets in Bunia (DR Congo) in the first fortnight of January.
They resolved to sign a tripartite agreement with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to sort out the repatriation and resettlement of refugees. On economic and social development, they agreed to promote new cooperation initiatives in the exploration and exploitation of oil and other mineral wealth.
They agreed to reinforce their cooperation in the management of trans-boundary natural resources, especially the fishing industry, ecotourism, scientific research, fight against water pollution and protection of rare endangered species.
They decided on reciprocal assistance in the social sector, where Uganda has made tremendous progress in the last 20 years, notably in primary health care, education and decentralisation.
UGANDA and the DR Congo have resolved to restore their diplomatic relations. During a landmark meeting at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort on Saturday, top government officials from the two countries agreed to appoint ambassadors early next year.
The two countries fell out in 1998 when Uganda, in an attempt to secure her borders, backed rebels in DR Congo civil war. The Ugandan embassy in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, was vandalised and the last ambassador was Dr. Kamanda Bataringaya, the mineral state minister.
At the meeting, Uganda and Congo revived the Joint Permanent Commission, which had collapsed 10 years back. Created in 1986, the permanent commission was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa, and his Congolese counterpart, Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi, led their delegations to the meeting that started on December 12.
President Yoweri Museveni met the delegation at State House Nakasero.
He assured them that Uganda was ready to enter a joint venture for mineral exploitation and establishment of infrastructure like roads and bridges.
He said such projects would enable the two countries add value and earn more money from international markets.
Museveni assured the Congolese delegation that Uganda had no intention of grabbing their oil deposits.
He said the Rukwanzi Island problem would be sorted out soon, adding that Uganda was committed to settling the matter.
On the implementation of the International Court of Justice judgment of December 19, 2005 and the resolution of other pending judicial matters, the two countries agreed to put in place a joint commission to handle the matter.
Its composition will be communicated in the first fortnight of January 2008.
To enforce security and political affairs, Uganda and Congo resolved to deploy liaison office personnel by the end of this year.
They will be in place by January, to end cross-border insecurity activities by negative forces, a joint communiqué said.
A joint border committee will also be established to verify the demilitarisation, creation of surveillance teams and a joint provisional local administration. The two countries also agreed that the committee meets in Bunia (DR Congo) in the first fortnight of January.
They resolved to sign a tripartite agreement with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to sort out the repatriation and resettlement of refugees. On economic and social development, they agreed to promote new cooperation initiatives in the exploration and exploitation of oil and other mineral wealth.
They agreed to reinforce their cooperation in the management of trans-boundary natural resources, especially the fishing industry, ecotourism, scientific research, fight against water pollution and protection of rare endangered species.
They decided on reciprocal assistance in the social sector, where Uganda has made tremendous progress in the last 20 years, notably in primary health care, education and decentralisation.