STORY: EAC leaders extend mandate of regional force in DRC by 3 months
DATELINE: Sept. 7, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:09
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. Various of EAC heads of states meeting
2. SOUNDBITE (English): PETER MATHUKI, EAC Secretary General
3. Various of EAC heads of states meeting

STORYLINE:

Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) have resolved to extend the mandate of their regional force that was deployed to restore security in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by additional three months.

The decision was announced in a communique released following the 22nd Extra-Ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State held Tuesday evening in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

The communique said that the leaders had collectively agreed to extend the mandate of the regional force in the DRC, which will expire on Sept. 8, by additional three months to Dec. 8.

SOUNDBITE (English): PETER MATHUKI, EAC Secretary General
"The heads of states took note of the following. One, the operational milestones achieved by the EAC regional force towards restoration of security in the eastern DRC, pursuant to the previous directives of the summit on the implementation of the EAC-led Nairobi process."

The summit was attended by leaders from Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, and South Sudan and representatives from the DRC and Uganda.

The eastern part of DRC has been plagued by violence from dozens of armed groups and rebellions for almost 30 years.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)