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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni expressed his country’s willingness to participate in regional peace talks to end hostilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during a speech before members of parliament.
Uganda’s Minister of State for Regional Affairs, John Mulimba, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to a diplomatic resolution of the ongoing crisis, denying any involvement in the conflict.
He stated that President Museveni assured lawmakers that the attack on Uganda’s embassy in Kinshasa did not result in any injuries among staff members.
“As we have previously stated, the problems of the Great Lakes region cannot be solved by military means. This approach has been tried before, has its limitations, and unnecessarily prolongs conflicts. President Yoweri Museveni and the Ugandan government remain ready to engage in regional peace initiatives to ensure an end to hostilities as soon as possible.” Minister Mulimba said
The Ugandan government also expressed concern over the humanitarian impact of the unrest in the DRC. Uganda currently hosts over 560,000 Congolese refugees and warned that it could face additional pressure if the situation worsens.
,”We are deeply concerned about the escalating tensions in eastern DRC, which have led to mass displacement of people, potentially putting additional strain on Uganda.”, Mulimba stated
The Ugandan minister described the conflict in the DRC as long-standing and complex, fueled by ethnic divisions, disputes over citizenship, mineral exploitation, economic interests, and youth unemployment.
Mulimba emphasized that Uganda does not support any armed groups operating inside the DRC.
He also defended the government’s decision to suspend Uganda Airlines flights to Kinshasa, citing safety concerns.
“The decision to suspend Uganda Airlines flights to Kinshasa, announced yesterday, is a wise move given the current circumstances, as we continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation.”He said.
