President Museveni has signaled Uganda’s readiness to engage in regional peace negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as revealed by Minister of State for Regional Affairs John Mulimba.
Addressing Parliament, Mulimba reiterated Uganda’s commitment to a diplomatic approach to resolve the crisis, emphasizing that Uganda is not militarily involved in the conflict. He assured lawmakers that no embassy staff were harmed during the recent attack on Uganda’s Embassy in Kinshasa.
“President Museveni and the Government of Uganda stand ready to participate in regional peace efforts to swiftly end hostilities,” Mulimba stated, highlighting the humanitarian concerns arising from the conflict’s impact, including the potential influx of Congolese refugees into Uganda.
The conflict in eastern DRC, characterized by ethnic tensions, citizenship disputes, mineral exploitation, economic interests, and youth unemployment, remains complex and protracted, Mulimba emphasized. He clarified Uganda’s stance of non-support for armed groups operating in the DRC.
Regarding safety measures, Mulimba defended the decision to suspend Uganda Airlines flights to Kinshasa, citing ongoing security assessments. He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively exploring options to provide emergency consular services to Ugandan citizens residing in the DRC.
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However, Mulimba’s remarks faced criticism from Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, who raised concerns about Uganda’s Ambassador to Kinshasa not being accredited for over four years. He also questioned the continuity of diplomatic operations following the embassy attack.
In response, Mulimba acknowledged these issues and clarified that the appointment of ambassadors falls under constitutional authority, indicating that appropriate steps have been taken to address the matter.
As Uganda navigates its diplomatic relations with Kinshasa amid the DRC conflict, the focus remains on achieving a peaceful resolution and addressing the broader implications for regional stability.
